An Australian Defence Force boarding and steaming party, together with an AFMA Fisheries Officer from Perth, was subsequently flown to South Africa to participate in a boarding exercise supported by the South African forces and assets. The South Tomi, accompanied by the Southern Supporter, then headed for Fremantle. The apprehended vessel, the South Tomi, is registered in Togo. The vessel is approximately 57 metres long and has a crew of 43 plus master. The South Tomi was reported by its master to have 90 tonnes of Patagonian toothfish on board.
Illegal fishing is a major concern for all Patagonian toothfish fisheries.
As well as threatening the sustainability of those fisheries, uncontrolled longlining is also known to kill many rare seabirds, including the threatened wandering Albatross.