Menindee man cops hefty fine for fishing offences

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Menindee man cops hefty fine for fishing offences

19 Mar 2012

A 65 year old Menindee man has been fined a total of $4,750 and ordered to pay $1,081 in costs after being found guilty of five fishing offences in Broken Hill Local Court.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) Director of Fisheries Compliance, Glenn Tritton, said the man failed to appear in court and in his absence was found guilty on all five matters.

“The repeat offender was apprehended by fisheries officers fishing in the Darling River upstream of Menindee,” Mr Tritton said.

“Not for the first time he was found unlawfully using a net or trap, in this case using 21 yabby traps when the legal limit is five, plus a gill net which is prohibited in NSW.

920 gill nets seized from the offenders home under a prohibition order.

“He has prior offences for the use of unlawful yabby traps and using gill nets to catch fish.

“The man was also convicted for exceeding the possession limit of yabbies and failing the pay the recreational fishing licence fee.”

Mr Tritton said a prohibition order under the Fisheries Management Act 1994 was also granted against the offender and a large quantity of fishing gear was seized from his premises.

“For the next five years the offender is prohibited from using traps or nets, being in possession of gill or drum nets and also banned from being in a boat on or adjacent to NSW waters,” Mr Tritton said.

“Fisheries officers seized 920 gill nets and 67 drum nets from the offender’s premises under the prohibition order.”

The offender has since lodged an application with the local court seeking to have the convictions annulled which will be heard later this month.

Mr Tritton said this court result is a reminder to all fishers in NSW, whether coastal or inland, that they must adhere to NSW fishing regulations.

“Fisheries officers regularly patrol both freshwater and saltwater waterways in an effort protect our fishing resources from illegal activity,” Mr Tritton said.

“Illegal fishing robs the community of a precious resource that is there for everyone to enjoy, and our dedicated team of fisheries officers will continue to target those doing the wrong thing.”

Information on fishing regulations can be found on the NSW DPI website www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au, or in the 2012 NSW Freshwater and Saltwater Fishing Guides available from NSW DPI offices and most bait and tackle stores.

Illegal fishing can be reported to the Fishers’ Watch Phone Line on 1800 043 536.