LATE last week Fisho was alerted to disturbing reports involving a thriving black market trade of commercially caught undersized kingfish on the NSW far south coast.
The source of the story was the online newsletter published by Andrew Hestelow of the Downrigger Shop.
Here’s an excerpt from the newsletter, which outlines eyewitness reports of illegal kingfish harvesting by some unscrupulous commercial fishers in the Eden region:
“Eighteen months ago there was a minor controversy, when reports trickled in that undersized kingfish were not being returned to the water until after they were dead. The pro fishermen would troll with lead lines and work the kingfish school into a frenzy, pulling them aboard as fast as they could. The boat would be full with both undersize and legal kingfish. Once the bite slacked off, the pro would go through the catch, throwing the now dead undersized fish overboard. After complaints to Fisheries this mostly stopped, and generally pros returned undersized fish when they were still alive.
“Green Cape is a famous kingfish spot some 20 miles south of Eden. Last Saturday, there were 28 boats fishing off the Cape, of which 18 were licensed fishing boats (LFBs.) An observer said the kingfish were in a frenzy with literally tonnes being caught that day, but hardly any undersized fish went back over the side. Were they dumped later, when dead? No.
“With the supply of farmed kingfish being currently affected by factors including disease, the price has jumped from $9 per kilo to $14 per kilo, highest price $17 per kilo. That’s big money, when you consider that a couple of years ago 160 tonnes of (declared) kingfish came from Eden in just twelve months. It’s even bigger money if the fish are sold for cash locally. Our observer – and I’ve confirmed this with two other witnesses, from the NSW south coast – says that the kingfish are being filleted on the boats and sold for cash, and that this is now a thriving black market at Eden. In some cases they are being dropped off before return to the boat ramp, in other cases the pros know the movements of the local fishing inspectors.
Fisho urges anyone who has witnessed such illegal fishing activity to record details of the boat involved, location, time and other relevant information and report it to the Fishers’ Watch Phone Line on 1800 043 536 and online at: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/compliance/report-illegal-activity
Fisho will keep you posted of further developments and reports related to this story.
