Port Pirie commercial fishers fined
Monday, 17 February 2003

A commercial net fisher and his deckhand were found guilty of various fisheries offences in the Port Lincoln Magistrates Court recently.

On 10 December 2002, commercial marine scalefish fisher Darryl Aitchison and his deck hand Phillip Champion pleaded guilty to taking and selling 567 undersized garfish.

As a result, Mr Aitchison was fined $2,735 and Mr Champion was fined $1117.50. Forfeiture of the undersized fish and fish bins was confirmed.

Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA) Acting Manager Operations, Helen Croft said commercial fishers have a responsibility to abide by the rules put in place to ensure the sustainable use of the fisheries resource.

“Minimum size limits are the most basic of fisheries rules and must be strictly adhered to by commercial and recreational fishers alike,” Ms Croft said.