Two men plead guilty to rock lobster offences
Thursday 13 October, 2005

One man from Millicent in the State’s South-East and another man from Morphettville have been fined after pleading guilty to a number of rock lobster related fisheries offences.

Paul Robert Marks (39) of Millicent appeared in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on Tuesday 11 October where he pleaded guilty to a number of fisheries offences including taking undersize rock lobster, exceeding the daily bag limit, using a spear to catch rock lobster and failing to cut the middle tail fan. As a result, Marks was fined a total of $1,842.65.

Joseph George Bowditch (28) of Morphettville, who also pleaded guilty, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on the 7th of October 2005 and was convicted on similar charges. He received fines totaling $1743.10.

In both cases the Magistrate confirmed forfeiture of the rock lobster and the snorkeling equipment.

The Court appearance resulted from Fisheries Officers observing the men exiting the water near Cape Douglas in the State’s south-east back in November 2004.

When Officers checked the men’s catch bags, they found one contained a total of 11 rock lobsters, 7 of which were undersize. Two of the eleven rock lobsters had been taken with a spear. Inspection of the other catch bag revealed a total of 13 rock lobsters, 12 of which were undersize. None of the rock lobsters had their middle tail fans cut as required for all recreationally caught lobster.

Manager Compliance Operations Paul Tatarelli reminded all fishers to make themselves aware of the rules that apply to rock lobster fishing in South Australia.

"The southern zone rock lobster season has just opened and the northern zone season is due to start on 1 November.

"Fisheries Officers across both zones will be paying close attention to size and catch limits to ensure all fishers comply," Mr Tatarelli said.