A Darwin Local Court has sentenced one Vietnamese fisherman to jail and sent his crew mates home after they were caught carrying out an illegal sea cucumber voyage.

Prosecutor Patrick Berends said the crew’s fishing boat was spotted in April with four divers in the water by Border Force officials near the Saumarez Reef.

Barrister for the fishermen, Lyma Nguyen told the court her clients came from poor families and had taken on the illegal voyage for the small rate of $10 per day.

Thirteen of the crew members were handed fines and suspended sentences as it was the first time they had been charged.

However crew member Huy Van Le was not so lucky, as Judge John Neil sentenced him to three months jail for being a repeat offender.