Bail for abalone offenders
Friday, 17 January 2003

Two men have been released on $1,000 bail to appear in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in 11 March 2003 on various fisheries related charges.

A 45 year old male and a 57 year old male, both from Queensland, were observed by uniformed fisheries officers on 13 January 2003 diving for abalone at Shelley Beach, near Port MacDonnell in the State’s south-east.

Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA) Fisheries Officers interviewed the men and as a result seized 55 abalone and a quantity of dive gear.

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

On the 12 January 2003, fisheries officers reported two people at Cape Banks near Carpenter Rocks, also in the State’s south east, for being in possession of undersized abalone and undersized rock lobster. They had also failed to cut the tail fan on the rock lobster before landing.

In this case, officers were responding to information provided via the Fishwatch telephone number (1800 065 522).

A male 38 and a female 35 both from Woolsthorpe in south western Victoria will appear in court at a later date charged with various offences.

Acting Manager Operations, Helen Croft said regular patrols to known dive sites are part of PIRSA Fisheries operational plan.

“We will continue to have a presence at known hot spots to ensure we send the right message to those who look to profit from the illegal taking of our fisheries resources,” Ms Croft said.