The two uncrewed marine vessels, known as Bluebottles, will capture real-time activity in waters off Jurien Bay and Two Rocks in a 30-day trial conducted by Parks Australia.

The 22-foot vessels look similar to a small yacht, but their purpose will focus on the protection and surveillance of WA's coastline.

Federal Minister for Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek said the trial would be used to target illegal fishing activity.

Key points:

• The trial will involve two uncrewed, 22-foot marine vessels capturing real-time activity in waters off the WA coast
• The autonomous vessels can monitor continuously for months at a time, making them ideal for deep-ocean work
• The vessels will initially be used in no-take fish zones to monitor illegal fishing

The vessel powered by renewable energy will take part in a 30-day-trial.(Supplied: Parks Australia)
 

"No-take zones are vital to protect threatened species, and also mean that surrounding areas increases in fish stocks," she said. 

"These are really important habitats for rock lobsters, dhufish, pink snapper and other important species."

"Whilst most fishers do the right thing and stay in the legal fishing zones, we aren't afraid to crack down on those doing the wrong thing by fishing in the no-take areas."

Deep ocean monitoring possible

Ms Plibersek said the unmanned vessels could cover a much larger area for a longer period of time.

"We can see this footage in real time. They can autonomously monitor areas for months at a time, so it can be out in deep ocean," she said.

"They are equipped with 360-degree day and night, infrared cameras, radar and satellite communications."

The minister said the Bluebottle technology would help in the challenge of surveillance of the deep waters off the coast.

The yacht-like vessel will be uncrewed and can spend long periods of time out in the ocean.(Supplied: Parks Australia)

"It's been really hard in the past, because we're talking about really large areas of ocean, very difficult and costly to patrol them," she said.

The minister said the trial was expected to finish later this month.

"We're hopeful that this will be a great success and that we'll be able to see more of these sorts of unmanned automated vessels in other oceans Australia to protect where we want to see species recovery," she said.

This Indonesia crew was seen into the Rowley Shoals Marine Park in Australian waters in 2021.(Supplied)
 

While the purpose of the Bluebottle technology is to target illegal fishing activity, Ms Plibersek did not rule out the possibility of wider operations with government bodies.

"We haven't had those discussions at this stage, but I think this is obviously a technology that's got a lot of potential," she said.

More tech to target illegal activity 

A vessel captured by latest drone technology in a marine safety blitz (Supplied: Parks Australia)
 

The yacht-like vessel is the latest technology being released to improve water surveillance.

Last year two underwater recorders called sound traps were installed at Two Rocks Marine Park to monitor marine activity during the Western Rock Lobster migration event. 

Drones with high-resolution cameras are also being tested in no-fish zones of Australian marine parks. 

With the use of the technology, 15 illegal recreational fishing incidents were detected. The government issued a penalty fine of $687 per incident.