The frigate HMAS Warramunga intercepted the Maya V in waters off Heard and McDonald Islands, more than 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles) south-west of the Australian mainland, and a boarding team went onto the vessel from a helicopter late Friday.

"Our frigate HMAS Warramunga and her sailors on patrol in Australia's southern oceans battled extremely bad weather and high seas to intercept and board the Maya V," Defence Minister Robert Hill and Fisheries Minister Ian Macdonald said in a joint statement.

They said a team of navy and fisheries personnel had stayed aboard the vessel, which was now being taken to Fremantle in Western Australia.

The Maya V is suspected of illegally fishing the protected patagonian toothfish, which fetches high prices in US and Japanese markets.

"This apprehension marks another blow to illegal fishers and proves once again that Australia has the capability to act decisively in all sorts of locations and conditions to protect our fisheries resources and territorial waters," the ministers said

Last August, Australia captured the Uruguayan-registered trawler Viarsa 1 after a 21-day high-seas chase.

It announced plans in December to commission a coast guard patrol boat armed with a machine gun to pursue rogue trawlers.

WAR.WIRE