Six crew members arrested by Border Force officers in mangroves on the Australian mainland on January 29 pleaded guilty to illegal fishing when they appeared in the Darwin Local Court on Tuesday.
Indonesians Kasman, Syamsudin, Ramli, Adisianadna, Anton and Hasba, the oldest aged 60, were all charged with using a foreign boat to fish in the territorial seas of Australia.
Kasman, the master of the unseaworthy boat, which has been destroyed, was charged with an extra count of being in charge of a boat equipped for fishing within the Australian fishing zone.
The men's lawyer, Lyma Nguyen, told Judge David Woodroffe her clients were from poor island villages, many of their families deep in debt just to survive and their fishing venture was "borne out of desperation".
They also faced the prospect of having to reimburse the boat's owner for the equivalent of $20,000 for the loss of the vessel, she said.
The crew had risked their lives spending many days at sea on an unseaworthy vessel, with the prospect of being caught and serving time in an Australian jail, Ms Nguyen said.
A federal prosecutor acting for the Northern Fisheries Management Authority told the court five of the six crew members had previous illegal fishing convictions or had failed to abide by good behaviour bonds.
He argued the only appropriate sentences for the repeat offenders were terms of imprisonment to act as a deterrent to intending illegal fishers.
In sentencing, Judge Woodroff noted the harm done by illegal fishing to the marine environment cherished by Australians.
He described the offending as an "extremely risky venture" to make money to pay off debts and support families but deterrence was needed to send a signal to prevent further offending.
Syamsudin, as a first offender, was placed on a conditional release order for two years.
Kasman, the boat's master, was handed a six-month prison term suspended on condition of good behaviour for three years.
Ramli, Adisianadna and Anton were given four-month jail terms also suspended on condition of good behaviour for three years.
Hasba's sentencing was delayed till March 3 to sort out issues related to previous offending and sentences.
