Farcebook Fool Fined $12500

[Member]

Farcebook seafood black marketer ‘Mickey Moo’ fined $12,500
News release | 06-Mar-2015 - DAFF



A recreational fisher from Redcliffe using the alias 'Mickey Moo' has been fined $12,500 for illegally selling seafood on blocked link.

Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) district manager Brett Depper said the fisher had been selling mud crabs, sand crabs, prawns and fish on local community buy and sell blocked link pages under the alias 'Mickey Moo'.

"We received a number of complaints from concerned members of the public after they suspected the advertisements on blocked link were recreationally caught seafood," Mr Depper said.

"This led to an extensive two and a half month investigation including monitoring social media, working with Queensland Police and executing a search warrant, to correctly identify the defendant and collect evidence."

The defendant was charged at the Redcliffe Magistrates Court for a range of offences including:
•selling fish without a licence
•falsely claiming to hold a commercial licence
•exceeding possession limits and possessing a female mud crab and undersized mud and blue swimmer crabs.



Mr Depper said taking fish to sell without an appropriate licence is illegal.

"Recreational fishing is for personal enjoyment and consumption only," he said.

"Black marketing of fish poses a threat to the legitimate seafood market and can pose a threat to food safety.

"It also puts additional pressure on the sustainability of fish species as there is often a cash incentive for black marketers to take more fish than they would if they were fishing for recreational purposes."

Mr Depper said it is critical that the public reports any suspected illegal fishing activities to Fishwatch so QBFP can establish a pattern of offences and effectively target the culprits.

"The successful conviction of Mickey Moo is in no small part due to the extensive level of public interaction through the Fishwatch hotline and Fisheries Queensland blocked link page," he said.

"We would like to thank everyone who reported him to us and assisted us in our investigations."



If you suspect illegal fishing, whether seen in person or online, report it to the Fishwatch hotline on 1800 017 116. Don't engage the person, as this can compromise an investigation. All information provided to the hotline will be prioritised based on potential fishery risks, accuracy and reliability with an appropriate response formulated.

Let's hope that Boating & Fisheries Patrol Officers keep using farcebook to nail illegal fishing practices in Qld's Sweetwater & then boasted about on farcebook and other cheap n nasty social media, as well as the rustwater like fishing in closed waters & the endless targetting of Mary River Cod in the Mary System.  Ed.