Australian authorities have apprehended a Vietnamese fishing vessel and its crew of 15, suspected of illegally fishing off the coast of Queensland.

According to The Courier-Mail, the Australian Border Force discovered 17 containers filled with sea cucumber on the boat after it was intercepted on Monday at Saumarez Reef, about 330km north east of Gladstone in the Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve.

Sea cucumbers are considered a delicacy in Southeast Asia and said to help cure quite a few diseases including diabetes, heart disease and kidney failure.

This latest illegal fishing arrest came after a similar incident in February, which saw 29 Vietnamese fisherman being charged with illegal poaching of sea cucumbers off the Australian coast.

Warwick Daily News reports that the 15 fishermen will be sent to detention in Darwin to await their charges.

Since 2016, authorities have seized 14 boats and apprehended more than 200 illegal Vietnamese fishermen in Australian ­waters.

Most of the 165 Vietnamese men charged with illegal fishing have escaped with suspended prison sentences or fines. However three repeat offenders have been jailed.

– with other agencies