Port MacDonnell man fined for rock lobster offences
Thursday, 11 March 2004

A Port MacDonnell man has pleaded guilty to various fisheries offences in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court recently.

Craig Wayne Aslin, 32, a deckhand of Port MacDonnell, in the State’s south-east, pleaded guilty to taking 15 rock lobsters in one day. This is 11 more than the daily limit of four that applies to recreational fishers. One of the 15 rock lobsters was also undersize.

As a result, Mr Aslin was fined a total of $2,335.

Fisheries Officers stopped Mr Aslin during an on water patrol in February 2003. A search of his vessel uncovered the haul of lobsters.

In handing down the sentence, Mr Eardley SM noted that as an experienced deckhand on a commercial rock lobster boat, Mr Aslin should have been aware of the seriousness of the offences he had committed.

PIRSA Fishwatch Manager Compliance Operations, Paul Tatarelli agreed saying that while Mr Aslin was operating on the day in question as a recreational fisher, he, more than most, should have been aware of the need to comply with the rules put in place.

“Fisheries Officers will continue to enforce the rules through overt and covert operations as well as shore based and on water patrols.

“And those who continue to flaunt the law will be caught,” Mr Tatarelli said.