Australian Border Force deploys aerial drones for anti-illegal fishing patrols

The Australian Border Force has deployed remotely piloted aircraft to Operation Broadstaff to strengthen surveillance against illegal foreign fishing in northern Queensland and the Torres Strait. Day-and-night optical and sensor feeds provide real-time views of difficult coastal terrain, complementing patrol vessels, crewed aircraft, land patrols and intelligence from partner agencies and local communities. The deployment extends an Australian northern-border rollout that already supports Operations Lunar and Leedstrum in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Broadstaff began in February 2026, covering a region with more than 270 islands and reefs across approximately 48,000 square kilometres.