Illegal abalone haul uncovered
Wednesday 5th January, 2005

Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA) Fisheries Officers are expected to charge six men with various abalone fisheries related offences as a result of an operation conducted on New Year’s Eve.

Fisheries officers from Kadina, together with a SAPOL officer from Port Victoria seized 234 greenlip abalone, 27% of which were undersize, at Wauraltee Beach near Port Victoria on Yorke Peninsula.

Manager Compliance Operations, Paul Tatarelli said this was the fifth alleged abalone related offence detected in the Yorke Peninsula area in recent times.

"Officers are concentrating on preventing the illegal catch of abalone and will continue to conduct both uniform and covert patrols at known abalone hotspots around the coast," Mr Tatarelli 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 up to $30,000.

Mr Tatarelli urged anyone who notices any illegal fishing or suspicious activities to telephone Fishwatch on 1800 065 522. Confidentiality will be maintained.