Australian Coastwatch
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Australian Coastwatch is a Division of the Australian Customs Service, which is an agency of the Australian Federal Government. With its headquarters based in Canberra, Australia, Coastwatch manages a fleet of 38 metre ocean going civil maritime Patrol Boats (known as Australian Customs Vessels - or ACV's).
The eight ACVs currently in service are:
- ACV Roebuck Bay
- ACV Holdfast Bay
- ACV Botany Bay
- ACV Hervey Bay
- ACV Corio Bay
- ACV Arnhem Bay
- ACV Dame Roma Mitchell
- ACV Storm Bay
Coastwatch also manages a fleet of maritime patrol aircraft. Surveillance flights are undertaken to detect and report activities as diverse as people smuggling, attempts to import or export prohibited goods, illegal trafficking in flora and fauna; and human incursions on coral reefs and other protected areas, the latter representing potential quarantine, health and marine habitat threats.
Coastwatch also plays an important role in supporting Australia's Oceans Policy by identifying and responding to illegal fishing in Australian waters, detecting and reporting environmental incidents such as marine pollution, and contributing to marine species protection through reporting sightings of marine mammals.
Coastwatch's Area of Interest covers the Australian coastline, Australia's offshore territories, the Australian Fishing Zone, and the Exclusive Economic Zone surrounding these areas. This amounts to approximately 37,000 kilometres of coastline and an offshore maritime area of nearly 15 million square kilometres.
Coastwatch also provides support to Australia's search and rescue body - the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
