Man arrested over illegal abalone
Friday, 17th May 2002

A 28 year old man from Port Kenny has been charged with various abalone related offences following his arrest at Reynella. He has been bailed to appear at the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on May 30.

The man has been charged with possessing more than 1,000 abalone (143 kilograms), a quantity of which was undersized. The abalone, which was tracked from South Australia to Queensland where it was seized, was valued at more than $18,000.

The arrest resulted from a joint undercover investigation conducted by Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA) Fisheries Officers in conjunction with an interstate fisheries agency and SA Police.

PIRSA General Manager Fisheries Services, Mark Lewis said the case highlighted the benefit of interstate and cross jurisdictional cooperation.

"Illegal fishing knows no boundaries and fishers trying to avoid prosecution by going interstate should think twice," he said.

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.

Inquiries in South Australia and interstate are continuing.