Buy a licence – don’t get caught

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Buy a licence – don’t get caught

It has been a busy six months for compliance at the IFS with 1,418 angling licences and 188 whitebait licences checked from 1 July to 12 December 2014. A total of 38 people have been caught fishing without a licence.
• 32 Fisheries Infringement Notices issued for 42 offences
• 31 Infringement Notices endorsed as conditional cautions issued for 34 offences
• $9,520 in infringement notice fines
• $4,620 Infringement Notice fines (included in above) related to whitebait offences in the northwest of the state
• 29 kilograms of whitebait seized
• one all-terrain vehicle seized
• nine whitebait nets seized
• two search warrants executed in relation to residential premises at Smithton
• eight vehicles searched
Further to the above there have been a couple of significant disqualifications
• Two offenders convicted of multiple whitebait related offences were each disqualified from holding a recreational whitebait licence for a period of five years each commencing season 2014.
• Since 2009 16 Notices of Disqualification have been issued totalling 66 years of disqualification.
The prosecution of offenders has also occurred with some convictions recorded and others pending.
• Stephen John BAKES of Burnie was convicted on 7/8/14 in the Burnie Magistrates Court of two counts of take protected fish and two counts of possess freshwater crayfish.  The defendant was fined $1,510 consisting of fines and special penalties and court costs of $78.44.
• Reginald Clemeth REEVE of Burnie was convicted on 7/8/14 in the Burnie Magistrates Court of one count of take protected fish and one count of possess freshwater crayfish.  The defendant was fined $560 consisting of fine and special penalty and court costs of $78.44.
• Bench warrant issued for the arrest of offender for failing to appear in the Burnie Magistrates Court for offences against officers and whitebait related offences.
• Four whitebait prosecution files to be submitted.
• Ulverstone Police apprehended three offenders netting and other offences at Penquin Creek 7/12/14
These results show that those breaking the law in inland waters will be caught!
Source: Buy a licence – don’t get caught