They have to power to board your boat only when you give them permission, that is why they ask first and you always say , go ahead.
But if you refuse then they suspect you have something to hide and then I think there is a clause in the legislation that allows them to board.

Had the rhib off the PV Wallcot board the boat i was on last year. Skipper is standing above the marlin board watching them approach, Rhib smacks right into the marlin board head on resulting in a huge knock, two fisheries officers jump from the front of the rhib onto the board, no permission, no shoes, smiling and introducing themselves by their slang names with hands out stretched. The next five minutes was all an out argument between the skipper on thats how pirates board boats and the now fired up fisheries officers arguing how they have the right to board any vessel they choose.

Complaint was lodged with the skipper of the Walcott but nothing more happened than what i heard anyway. They have the power but there is a way to go about it and they dont always seem to keen on making friends as they go or building working relationships with people who do the righty. In my experiences anyway

I have had them board my boat of the dawsville cut I have no problem with them coming onboard but just make sure that it is safe to do so. In a 1 - 2 metre swell and a decent chop on the water boarding from a rib is quite a bit dangerous, any how they fisheries guy takes a flying leap lands in the boat his feet go from under him and he lands hard, falls and hurts his back. He didn't blame us or anything like that but we felt bad that he had hurt himself and was it really nessessary to board in such conditions. We had nothing to hide and you could say we did the inspection for him as the guy could hardly move for the pain we offered to take him to shore to say crossing boats again but he would have none of it

I have been approached by the same fishery's boat behind garden island first they came behind my stern and chopped of our lines by running over them they then did a 360 cam about and put their bow straight into my boat amidships and made a good dent in it cheeky me shouted how ####### long have you driving boats mate (he looked about 18) only to be told we want to see your safety gear and catch that done we were told to be on our way then and they steamed of at full speed to their victim having worked up in the north west for many years in the marine department for many for a major resource company I can tell you that isn't how to behave your self on the ocean

board our boat without asking for permission at Shark Bay after a big bump from the rib. To be strait forward I think they had been on the piss.

meglodom you are dead right about safe work practices , one of my jobs in the marine dept up north was to maintain the buoys and become nav lights I was asked may times to wright a safe working procedure for this job but they were always knocked back when you mentioned the word "jump" which is what you had to do to get on a buoy or beacon my employer at that time considered them self trend setters when it came to safety in those days but if there were more than 3 nav lights out in the shipping channel they didn't hesitate sending me out in up to 3 meter swells to fix them I was so stupid and indestructible in those days

Agreed, with the case i mentioned above, beyond just common couresty our skipper's main gripe was what if we were in a state of emergency? if we were sinking or trying to deal with a fire, having to do head counts of passengers and provide duty of care and these guys just come jumping onboard uninvited, or how do they know we didn't have hooks and gear all over the deck and they aren't even bothering to wear shoes on offical government business? who would be responsible? Takes two seconds to say g'day and request to come aboard (which you cant refuse anyway) but bad impressions last a whole lot longer.

It jacks me of how sometimes they race up to my boat at like what seems a million knots making huge bow waves which is completely uncalled in my opinion. By all means check my vessel and my catch but again don't do it like an egotistical knob. Safety and courtesy is really needed when it comes to boats and the ocean , to many "accidents" can happen to easily.

 report them to the port authority they caused a collision at sea its illegal

lot of them are the same. There are those in every job that lack C.D.F. whether that be fisheries, mining sector, whatever.

Every now and then a clown will show up and stuff up. Can be due to ignorance, negligence, stupidity or just plain mishap.

As for the issue of boarding vessels. Common sense and experience will usually prevail. Think of all the inspections that are carried out each year and the number of stuff ups that occur. Would be small in comparison. Dont say, they shouldnt stuff up. There is not one job where mistakes are not made.

They ask for consent to board your boat as a courtesy. Depending on your response and behaviour, that will influence the level of suspicion they hold. If you say no, they can still board you anyway.

If they already have something on you i.e. have been watching you from a distance, they may not ask, they will tell you.

Just remember that the next time your inspected, just take it as it comes, because chances are it probably wont be the same officer that pissed you off the first time.

NO im not fisheries !!

In general I think they do a ok job, god knows what our fisheries would be

like if they werent around, but that doesnt mean they cant improve, or there perfect.

We have been boarded a couple of times , and for the life of me cant think why they dont carry a few semi inflatable

rubbing sausages( u know the ones) to sling over between the boats, common sense really.

And there people skills really need improving , as both times with different guys, even after doing there checks

and finding nothing of course , there demeanure is one of officialdom and allmost a ( well we didnt find anything THIS TIME!)

type of thing. They can remain proffessional and still be encourging, and curtious to people doing the right thing.

I've been boarded a couple of times the other times 4 or 5 they just pull along side ask their questions  and be on their way every time with good manners and a smile. those of you who have a problem have you reported it to their superiors and if your boat was damaged have you made a claim for damages I think it's all about attitude.

Luckily my boat is a pretty soild plate ali, only got a tiny dimple where his boat hit, would have caused some damage on a fibreglass boat though!