Fishermen ordered to forfeit boat and gear

[Member]

Fishermen ordered to forfeit boat and gear
10 April 2014 - VIC DEPI

Two fishermen who used illegal set-lines in the Broken Creek, near Picola, were fined and ordered to forfeit their boat and fishing equipment in the Echuca Magistrates' Court earlier this month.

The two fishermen pleaded guilty to a number of fishing offences.Equipment

In December 2013 the men were detected by Fisheries officers setting commercial fishing equipment, including 12 setlines, in the Broken Creek near Picola, targeting Murray Cod, an iconic native species which is greatly reduced from its former range and abundance.

DEPI Regional Fisheries Manager Mike Hosking said the men were found to be in possession of and using commercial fishing equipment in the form of setlines and yabby pots, plus one of the men was without a recreational fishing licence.

"Both men were fined $750, plus court costs," Mr Hosking said.

"The court ordered their boat, trailer, outboard and associated fishing equipment be forfeited and both men received orders prohibiting them engaging in recreational fishing for eight months.

"DEPI is pleased with the outcome and hopes these convictions will send a strong message to people considering engaging in similar activities.

"Setlines and yabby pots are both classed as commercial fishing equipment and it is a serious offence for recreational fishers to either possess or use such equipment in, on or near Victorian inland waters," he said.

"Fishers who choose to use setlines are inclined to put them in place and leave them unmanned, typically leading to exceeding bag limits and failure to assess the size of the fish at time of capture, removing the option to release if too small."

The enforcement and regulation of bag and size limits plus the type of equipment used, insures the sustainable distribution and the protection of fish populations for all recreational fishers.

Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected illegal fishing activities to the 24 hour Fisheries offence reporting line, 13 FISH (13 3474).


Attached picture shows the boat & gear that was order forfeit
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[Member]

Unless they walked to the river pulling that trailer, I can't see why they didn't forfeit a vehicle too.