Victorian man guilty of abalone offences
Thursday 20 October, 2005

Mr Trung Nguyen (38) of Thomastown, Victoria has been fined for abalone offences after pleading guilty in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court recently.

The charges resulted from an incident, which occurred on 26 January 2005 at Squeaky’s Beach, near Port MacDonnell in the State’s South-East.

On that day, local Fisheries Officers, conducting a routine uniform patrol, observed Mr Nguyen with diving gear and a bag. A search of the bag revealed 37 undersize abalone.

Appearing before Magistrate Boxall, Mr Nguyen was charged with a range of fisheries offences including exceeding the daily bag limit and being in possession of a quantity of undersize abalone. As a result, he was fined a total of $2,770. The Court also confirmed forfeiture of the abalone and a quantity of dive gear.

In handing down the penalty, Magistrate Boxall said Mr Nguyen was recklessly indifferent to the laws within this State.

Manager Compliance Operations Paul Tatarelli agreed saying PIRSA Fisheries makes information about the fishing rules that apply in South Australia readily available to locals and visitors.

"Interstate fishers visiting South Australia have a responsibility to make themselves aware of the rules before fishing in this State," Mr Tararelli said.

"They ignore them at their own peril."