IT’S been a big week for Fisheries Queensland with four separate investigations into illegal fishing activity resulting in successful court prosecutions in Ayr, Maryborough and Gladstone, including the seizure of a vessel.
Ayr
A recreational fisher appeared in the Ayr Magistrates Court and was convicted and fined $10,000 and had his vessel, motor and trailer forfeited to the Crown for offences including unmarked crab apparatus, three female mud crabs, three undersized mud crabs and five undersized fish. The Magistrate stated the penalty should serve as a deterrent to the community and the repeat offender, and that fishing is a privilege not a right and laws should be observed.
Maryborough
Two commercial fishers appeared before the Maryborough Magistrates Court this week. The first matter related to the use of 14 excess mud crab apparatus and failure to mark apparatus. The fisher was fined $2900 with excess pots forfeited to the Crown.
The second matter related to the possession of 18 excess spanner crab dillies on board a commercial fishing boat. The fisher was fined $2400 with excess dillies and $1607 in proceeds of sale of the crabs forfeited to the crown.
Gladstone
A recreational fisher from Boyne Island was fined $7500 for possessing three commercial fishing nets, 17 female mud crabs and one undersized mud crab. Fisheries officers executed a search warrant on the property mid last year and found the remains of female crabs in the freezer and a carapace less than 15cm. The fisher pleaded guilty and all equipment was forfeited to the crown.
If anyone suspects illegal fishing, please report it to the Fishwatch hotline on 1800 017 116 so that it can be investigated.
For more information on fishing rules, visit the Queensland Fisheries website.
