Some Don't Give a !**! (Hoot)

[Gad]

Taken from Fishing World email newsletter

Pro caught trawling in marine park

28 Oct 2013

A COMMERCIAL fisher from Ulladulla is facing tens of thousands of dollars in fines and possible imprisonment after allegedly being caught trawling through the Batemans Marine Park, during the October long weekend, said Glenn Tritton, Director Fisheries Compliance.

“Fisheries and Marine Park officers from the south coast were out in force over the October long weekend as part of Operation DPI X-ray 13, targeting people fishing from vessels in the Brush Island and Murramarang Sanctuary Zones and land based fishing in the Murramarang Special Purpose Zone of the Batemans Marine Park,†Mr Tritton said.

“The commercial fishing vessel was apprehended trawling approximately four kilometres south-south east of Brush Island, within the General Use Zone of the Batemans Marine Park. Trawling has been prohibited within all zones of the Batemans Marine Park since 2007.

“Fisheries and Marine Park Officers boarded the vessel and ordered it to retrieve the net and return to port at Ulladulla.

“The net was found to have approximately 200 kilograms of fish including ling, tiger flathead and sand flathead.

“Fisheries officers seized the cod end portion of the net and the catch and were able to return more than 130 kilograms of fish to the water, while the remaining 65kg of fish were able to be sold.

“Unregulated trawling is known to cause damage to sensitive reef habitats as well as devastating impacts on by catch.â€

The man faces a combined penalties total of $132,000 in fines and/or 12 months imprisonment.

Fisheries and Marine Park officers also detected another 44 offences over the course of the long weekend including 32 people found fishing in the sanctuary zones, fishers found fishing without a recreational fishing fee, failing to have a recreational fishing fee in their possession and being in possession of rigged fishing gear in a sanctuary zone.

Officers also seized a number of fish illegally taken in a sanctuary zone, which were returned to the water alive.

“Fishers are reminded to make sure they’re aware of the fishing rules and regulations before they go fishing. Batemans Marine Park signs are displayed at most boat ramps, and maps are available from DPI Fisheries Offices, Batemans Marine Park office at Narooma, fishing tackle shops, tourist information centres and online at http://www.mpa.nsw.gov.au/bmp.html,†Mr Tritton said.

“A number of patrols were also conducted across inland waters during the long weekend. Fisheries officers from Bathurst and Dubbo conducted patrol activities along the Lachlan and Macquarie Rivers and Lake Cowal.

“A number of fishers were apprehended including a commercial fisher and a recreational fisher at Lake Cowal for failing to mark their set yabby traps correctly, a 60 year old man from Pomona in NSW in possession of yabbies carrying ova (eggs) externally and a 36 year old man from Euabalong West in possession of 9 excess lines in his vessel.â€

Fisheries Officers also found and seized 10 illegal fish traps on a property near Kiacatoo downstream of Condobolin, and will continue to target offenders using this illegal equipment. Other seizures include 10 fish traps, 9 rigged lines, 2 Murray cod (52cm and 53cm in length) and a silver perch.

[ellicat]

Fisheries officers seized the cod end portion of the net and the catch and were able to return more than 130 kilograms of fish to the water, while the remaining 65kg of fish were able to be sold.

I hope they weren't able to be sold by the criminal

[Dinodadog]

Second last para is a bit hard to understand

in possession of 9 excess lines in his vessel

[ellicat]

Second last para is a bit hard to understand

in possession of 9 excess lines in his vessel

Don't know about NSW regs but Qld is 3 or 4 lines per person from memory (which isn't that great at the moment :blush: ) Unsure if unrigged lines count.

Someone in the know will chime in, no doubt.