Sweetwater Fishing Forums
General Category => News Views & Press Releases => Topic started by: Editor on November 17, 2014, 04:00:07 PM
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Prosecution of Crayfish poachers
As a result of a joint Inland Fisheries Service/ Parks and Wildlife Service surveillance operation on the Emu River two people were convicted of taking and possessing giant freshwater crayfish in the Burnie Magistrates Court on 4 November 2014. After pleading guilty one offender was fined $1,510 and $78.44 in costs.
The second offender was jointly charged and was fined $560 and $78.44 in costs.
(http://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/prosecution-of-lobster-poachers/image_mini)
Giant freshwater crayfish (Astacopsis gouldi) are listed as ˜vulnerable" under the Commonwealth's Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 and the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.
They are a ˜protected fish" under the Inland Fisheries Act 1995
Prior to the banning of fishing in Tasmania in January 1998, records indicate there was a wide scale decline in the population numbers throughout its range. Moreover, there was a marked decline in the number of large reproductively mature individuals.
This was explicitly linked to the removal of larger adult specimens that were targeted by fishers.
Stephen Hepworth - Manager Compliance and Operations
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