A 31-year-old Batemans Bay man has been fined $10,000, ordered to complete 50 hours
community service and given a five year good behaviour bond after being found guilty of
illegally using an ocean hauling net on the NSW South Coast.
NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) Director of Fisheries Compliance, Glenn
Tritton, said fisheries officers found the man fishing as part of a licensed fishing crew on
Mullimburra Head, south of Moruya.
“Fisheries officers had warned the man the day before he was charged that he was not
permitted to actively fish with the crew,” Tritton said.
“When he was found the following day committing the same offence, he was charged with
unlawfully using a general purpose hauling net. The offender held a commercial fishing licence, however he did not have an endorsement that permitted him to operate a general purpose hauling net in the ocean hauling fishery.
“This is not the first time the man has been caught violating fishing rules with this offence
being a breach of a five year good behaviour bond he had received in a previous fishing
conviction for illegal abalone fishing in 2009.
“He was fined an additional $1500 for breaching this original bond and placed on another
five year good behaviour bond, which applies to his day-to-day life, not just his fishing
activity.”
Tritton said commercial fishers are required to comply with a series of licensing and
endorsement requirements and penalties for non-compliance can be severe.
“To use, or assist someone to use, a general purpose hauling net, individuals must have an endorsement, with maximum penalties for failing to comply with this requirement up to
$44,000 and 12 months imprisonment.”
In related news, anglers are being warned to abide by closures at power station discharge canals after several men were fined for breaking fishing rules on the Central Coast over the last month. NSW fisheries officers have found numerous fishers doing the wrong thing since the annual seasonal closure started at the beginning of May.
“At Eraring, there have been two separate incidents over the last month where fisheries officers have apprehended people allegedly fishing illegally in the warm water discharge canal near Eraring Power station,” Glenn Tritton said.
“Two men were apprehended on 9 May and another six men on 12 May with each issued on-the-spot fines of $500.
“Three fishers were also spoken to at Munmorah Power House after being discovered with fishing gear adjacent to the outlet canal.
The waters in and adjacent to the outlet canals of Munmorah, Eraring and Vales Point power stations are closed to all methods of fishing between the hours of 6pm and 6am from 1 May to 31 August annually.
illegal fishing should be reported to the Fisher’s Watch Phone Line on 1800 043 536.
