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Marine Services

Tasmania Police Marine Services has its origins as far back as 1835 when Water Police were formed to deal with smuggling and escaped convicts.

Today it is responsible for enforcing fisheries and marine safety laws as well as providing a water-borne capability for search and rescue operations.

Marine Policing

Tasmania is the only State in Australia where responsibility for the enforcement of the fishery laws protecting the living marine resources of the Commonwealth and State is vested with police.

Tasmania has approached fisheries enforcement with a view to avoiding the duplication of assets, so that vessels used for fisheries and marine safety enforcement are also used for search and rescue.

It also means that police responsible for the enforcement of fisheries legislation have access to resources and legislated powers not normally available to fisheries officers. Marine Services is the primary fisheries enforcement branch and it is supported by trained surveillance personnel, police trained in intelligence analysis and specialist forensic support services which are made available in any area of the State where a problem occurs.

Specialist police officers situated around the State are specifically assigned to fisheries enforcement. In addition, every police officer is authorised to carry out fisheries-related duties if called upon.

Based in Hobart, Marine Services has 25 members who are dedicated to policing rock lobster, abalone, scalefish and aquaculture as well as Commonwealth, recreational and other fisheries.

This involves regular checks of fishing vessels at sea, vessels in ports or at boat ramps, retail fish outlets and other outlets where it is suspected that fish are sold or moved contrary to the law.

Overt and covert surveillance at sea and from land using modern electronics lessens the chances of offenders flouting the law. Complex technical equipment allows police to target offenders with greater accuracy than ever before with the assistance of advances such as Vehicle Monitoring System (VMS).

A fleet of different craft designed for a variety of purposes ensures that every contingency is covered. At the pinnacle of the fleet is the state-of-the-art "Van Diemen": a 23 metre vessel which was built in Geraldton, Western Australia in 1995.

The vessel is equipped with two 1100 horse power Caterpillar diesel engines. It cruises at 20 knots and has a capability of 30 knots. "Van Diemen" has a range of 1000 nautical miles and patrols the entire Tasmanian coastline as well as up to 100 miles out to sea.

Other vessels include the 16 metre "Freycinet", another sea-going vessel, the 15m "Vigilant", a Huon pine crafted vessel, "Dauntless" an 8 metre cruiser and a number of 5 metre "Devil" cats strategically located around the State.

For further enquiries, please contact:

Marine Services

76 Federal Street

North Hobart  TAS 7000

Ph: (03) 6230 2475