Three men fined for rock lobster offences
Monday 14 November 2005

A commercial rock lobster fisher and two other men, all from the State’s South-East, have been fined after pleading guilty to a number of fisheries related offences in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court recently.

Garry Robert Nilsson (53) a commercial rock lobster fisher from Rendelsham pleaded guilty to failing to comply with licence conditions, two charges of furnishing false and misleading information and taking rock lobster from a commercial vessel for a purpose other than trade or business.

As a result, Mr Nilsson was fined $2,000, an additional penalty of $2,200 for the value of the illegal catch and Court costs of $251.75 – a total of $4451.75.

Two other men, Graeme Menzies Smith (46), a farmer from Rendelsham and Kevin John Banks (68) retired of Millicent also pleaded guilty to one charge of aiding and abetting an offence.

Each were fined $750, Court costs of $146.75 – a total of $896.75.

The Court appearances resulted from local Fisheries Officers intercepting eight rock lobster being transferred from Mr Nilsson’s commercial fishing vessel to a recreational vessel whilst at sea off Southend in the State’s South-East.

PIRSA Manager Compliance Operations, Mr Paul Tatarelli said this type of offence should not just be seen as someone getting pinched for forgetting to fill in some paper work. This was an intentional act to avoid the commercial quota system.

"Commercial fishers are required to report all of their commercial catch against an agreed quota for that season," Mr Tatarelli said.

"Any attempt to avoid reporting quota should be seen as an attempt to cheat the whole community and risks the long-term health of the rock lobster fishery."