Commercial fisher guilty of quota evasion
Wednesday, 12 May 2004

Ian Edward Taylor, a commercial rock lobster fisherman from Port MacDonnell in the State’s South East, has been convicted of two fisheries related offences.

The conviction resulted from an undercover investigation by fisheries officers in response to information provided by a member of the public.

During the inspection, the officers seized 31 southern rock lobster weighing 21.95 kilograms that had been hidden under a false floor in a tender vessel. The tender vessel was also seized.

Appearing before Mr Eardley SM in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court, Mr Taylor pleaded guilty to furnishing a catch and disposal record that was false or misleading and breaching a condition of his southern zone rock lobster licence by failing to weigh this portion of his catch at the certification station.

As a result Mr Taylor was fined $3,000 and had his commercial fishing licence suspended for one calendar month. The suspension is to be served during the 2004-05 season.

PIRSA Fishwatch, Manager Compliance Operations, Paul Tatarelli said fisheries officers were vigilant and highly committed to uncovering quota evasion.

“The southern zone rock lobster fishery is a quota-based fishery and all commercial fishers are lawfully required to weigh their total catch upon landing. The total weight of the catch is then subtracted from their annual catch quota.”

“Any fishers who attempt to avoid reporting their catch will face prosecution,” Mr Tatarelli said.