There have been startling scenes along Australia’s northern coast in recent months, with what’s being described as an "unprecedented surge" of foreign boats. While some have been carrying asylum-seekers, Australian Border Force says most are illegal fishing crews. This practice has been happening for hundreds of years, but now, ahead of the federal election, it’s becoming an awkward intersection of concerns over border security, environmental impact, and the welfare of impoverished fishers, some of whom are dying in Australian waters.
