SYDNEY, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- An illegal foreign fishing vessel has been nabbed operating off Australia's northeast coast, the third illegal fishing vessel caught in a week.

The Australian authorities on Tuesday said they detected the Vietnamese vessel via areal surveillance 180 nautical miles northeast of Gladstone in Queensland on Nov. 16. The vessel was finally apprehended on Nov. 19, allegedly with more than three tonnes of illegally caught sea cucumbers after the 13 crew had dumped some of their catch overboard.

"Illegal fishing threatens the sustainability of our unique marine environment and we continue to work with our partners to protect Australia's valuable marine resources," Australian Border Force (ABF) Commander, Rear Admiral Peter Laver, said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Our surveillance and response capabilities extend throughout the (Australian Exclusive Economic Zone) to allow us to deter and apprehend illegal activity and foreign vessels seeking to conduct illegal fishing."