Reef pickers to face charges
Thursday 6th January, 2005

PIRSA Fishwatch has asked the community to be on the look out for illegal reef pickers following two recent events.

On Sunday 2 January 2005, acting on information from a member of the public, Yorke Peninsula Fisheries Officers attended the Troubridge Hill Aquatic Reserve where officers seized 6 catch bags containing 525 abalone and a quantity of other shellfish. All of the abalone were undersize.

As a result, Fisheries Officers are expected to charge three people with various offences including the taking of undersize abalone, reef picking from an intertidal zone and taking abalone and other shellfish from an aquatic reserve.

In another recent case, Fisheries Officers undertaking a uniform patrol on Tuesday 28 December 2004 at Lonsdale Beach, north of Port Stanvac, seized 133 shucked abalone and 37 whole abalone, all of which were undersize. One man will face charges related to taking over the bag limit, undersize and a commercial quantity of abalone.

Manager Compliance Operations, Paul Tatarelli said this type of illegal activity involved a number of small groups who were often well organised.

"Information received by PIRSA Fishwatch suggests that the majority of these offences are undertaken by a few groups or individuals who are looking to sell the shellfish, particularly abalone, on the black market," Mr Tatarelli said.

"This type of illegal activity is irresponsible and will not be tolerated especially where it involves taking shellfish from an Aquatic Reserve."

PIRSA Fishwatch is asking members of the public to be watchful for illegal reef picking and assist Fisheries Officers by reporting any suspected illegal activity to the Fishwatch telephone line (1800 065 522).

"Those offenders who are caught will face the full force of the law," Mr Tatarelli said.

In South Australia it is illegal to take any bottom dwelling organisms from the state’s intertidal rocky reef areas from the high water mark out to a water depth of two metres. This means it is illegal to remove abalone, periwinkles, barnacles or any other bottom dwelling organisms from any intertidal reef.

Penalties for these types of offences that involve the taking of abalone 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 abalone to a maximum of $30,000.