The Daily Examiner, 7 May 2019, p.4:
If you think illegal net
fishing is no big deal, you may be about to get tangled up in a very expensive
process.
The warning comes from
NSW Department of Primary Industries Fisheries on the North Coast as they
successfully prosecuted commercial fisherman from Iluka over seven illegal
fishing offences in two years.
And the cost to him?
More than $18,000 in fines and professional fees.
DPI director of
fisheries compliance, Patrick Tully said all matters in relation to the
offences were heard in court on April 10, with the offender convicted of all
charges.
“This offender has
incurred significant penalties related to the illegal use of nets in the waters
of the lower Clarence River on two separate occasions in 2017 and 2018,” Mr
Tully said.
“In November 2017, the
offender failed to stop his vehicle when requested by Fisheries officers who
then pursued him to his residence where they found him to be in possession of
an illegal net and a number of fish taken illegally by that net. Then in April
2018, the offender was found using a net by illegal methods.
“On both occasions the
nets and illegally taken fish were seized by DPI Fisheries officers.”
The man, a repeat
offender, was convicted on all six fishing-related offences and one of
obstructing fisheries officers. He was also required to pay the department’s
professional costs….
Anyone with information
on suspected illegal fishing activity is urged to contact their local DPI
Fisheries office, call the Fisher Watch phone line on 1800043536 or report
illegal fishing activities online.
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