Undersized Abalone Seized on Fleurieu Peninsula
Friday, 25th January 2002

PIRSA Fisheries compliance officers apprehended three people on Tuesday 22 January 2002 in possession of more than 400 abalone.

A 52 year old man and his 46 year old wife both from Mansfield Park and a 38 year old man from Croydon were stopped at a road block set up by compliance officers at Sellicks Hill.

A search of the vehicle revealed 420 abalone weighing 32.94 kilograms (whole weight) plus a quantity of other marine shellfish. All abalone were undersized.

Acting Manager, Operations, Kym Wakefield said fisheries compliance officers responded to a call to FISHWATCH, which is the 24 hour telephone service for reporting illegal fishing activities. The FISHWATCH telephone number is 1800 065 522.

"The community has had enough of illegal fishing," he said. "Many are now prepared to report any suspected illegal fishing activity and we will do our best to respond to these reports.

"The illegal removal of large numbers of undersized abalone has the potential to severely deplete local abalone stocks."

Penalties for this type of offence include a maximum fine of $60,000 and/or two years jail and an additional penalty of five times the wholesale catch up to a maximum of $30,000.