Third abalone operation for Peninsula in six months
Thursday, 15 May 2003

Three men have been charged with abalone related fisheries offences as a result of a call from a member of the public to the Fishwatch telephone service.

The men, two from Moonta and one from Moonta Bay were observed in the Cape Elizabeth area, near Port Hughes yesterday. When stopped by Primary Industries and Resources SA Fisheries officers and SA Police officers, the men were found to be in possession of 159 abalone, 156 of which were undersized.

This is the third abalone related offence of this type in the upper Yorke Peninsula area in the last six months.

General Manager Fisheries Services, Mark Lewis said officers from PIRSA Fishwatch were looking to develop additional strategies aimed at working with the local community to address this type of illegal activity.

“Officers are meeting with specific community groups on Yorke Peninsula. Our aim is to work with these groups to educate and inform them of the rules that apply to abalone fishing in South Australia,” he said.

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.

Fishwatch is a 24-hour telephone service for reporting illegal fishing activities. The Fishwatch telephone number is 1800 065 522.