Illegal fishers’ costly slip up

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Illegal fishers’ costly slip up
19 Jan 2015 - NSW DPI

A commercial fisher is counting the cost of his illegal fishing expedition, ordered to pay thousands of dollars in fines while his vehicle and boat were seized as well.

Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Acting Director of Compliance, Tony Andrews, said the 50 year old man, and his 47 year old wife were observed during a targeted covert operation by the Statewide Operations and Investigations Group, illegally fishing for eels in the Hunter Valley in 2013.

"Specialist fisheries officers onboard a light aircraft observed the pair illegally fishing in non-tidal waters on private properties in the Maitland and Singleton areas in July 2013," Mr Andrews said.

"The officers observed the fishers using and setting six eel traps, which are prohibited for use because of the impact they have on our fragile freshwater ecosystem.

"The pair, from Smith's Lake on the NSW Mid North Coast, was apprehended and 42 longfin eels were seized and returned to the water alive."

Their vehicle, a canoe, six eel traps and a live storage tank were also seized.

The man, a repeat offender, appeared in Maitland Court in December charged with 11 offences, including threatening a fisheries Officer, take fish (eels) from declared waters, unlawfully use (eel) trap for taking fish (eels), contravene condition of endorsement on licence, failure to remove fishing gear from water on request of officer and possess storage tank adjacent to inland waters .

He was fined $2,000 and also ordered to pay the Department's professional costs in the amount of $7,802.50.

He was also entered into a two year good behaviour bond and sentenced to 200 hours of community service and forfeited his vehicle and canoe.

The woman also appeared in court in Kurri Kurri, and was found guilty and entered into a 12 month good behaviour bond for obstructing a fisheries officer.

"This man is a recidivist offender, and his case should serve as a warning to other illegal fishers – if you do the wrong thing, you will be caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law," Mr Andrews said.

"The rules are very clear and illegal fishing practices will not be tolerated within our fragile freshwater ecosystems of NSW.

"Illegal eel trapping in non-tidal and freshwater areas has led to native fauna mortalities including platypus and freshwater turtles.

"Fisheries officers will continue to use whatever means available to them to target illegal fishing in NSW and bring offenders before the courts."

Information concerning illegal fishing can be reported to the Fishers Watch Phoneline on 1800 043 536
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