Unlicensed Fishers
Submitted by SARFAC Friday, 18th July 2003

From: SARFAC [sarfac@chariot.net.au]
To: Recipient list suppressed
Sent: Fri 18/07/2003 7:27 AM
Subject: ABC TRANSCRIPT ON UNLICENCED FISHERS

Unlicensed Fishers
Claim mobile phones have seen rates of illegal fishing reach unprecedented levels

It's claimed the advent of mobile phones has seen rates of illegal fishing for King George Whiting reach unprecedented levels. The State Govt says there's no evidence the practice is out of control. Fishers have been calling for a fin clipping system to identify fish which can't be sold, with some claiming the black market in the fish is now as big as the legal trade.

Commercial and Recreational Fishers' Liaison Officer, Tony Ballestrin, says illegal operators are taking advantage of a lack of policing:

(639ABC 7.30am/8.30am) "Since the inception of mobile phones the Fisheries Department have no hope of catching up with them because they use the mobile phones to contact each other from ship to shore and let them know when it's clear to bring fish in."

(639ABC 6.30am) "It's going on everywhere, that's just human nature. You get chaps, they just sneak them in. I mean they've got mobile phones now. They keep in touch with their friends ashore. They say no, there's no inspectors around. So they keep catching them and then they come in and away they go. Since the mobile phones, they contact each other ship to shore and let them know when it's clear to bring fish in."

Paul Holloway says there's no evidence to suggest illegal fishing is rampant and the issue of fin clipping needs further investigation. He says compliance officers have been increased and it's doubtful a further increase would help:

(639ABC 6.30am) "Obviously if we had any evidence of that we'd be taking action against those people. All I can say to those people is that if they do have any evidence which would help us detect people that are illegally buying or selling fish, then please let us know. We'll do our best to stamp it out."

(639ABC 7.30am/8.30am) "One can make the reasonable assumption I think that if people are going to buy and sell fish illegally they're going to make sure there's no-one around when they do it."