Four to face snapper charges
Friday 2 December, 2005

Three commercial fishers and one recreational fisher will be charged with taking snapper during the closed season following a major operation by PIRSA Fisheries.

Fisheries Officers utilising land, sea and air support, including the new patrol vessel Southern Ranger, undertook the operation prior to the lifting of a month long snapper fishing closure that ended at 12 noon on Wednesday.

As well as laying various charges, more than half a tonne of snapper valued at more than $3,000 was seized.

PIRSA Manager Compliance Operations, Paul Tatarelli, said in the case of the commercial fishers, they were looking to gain a commercial advantage by fishing before the closure ended.

"It is important that all fishers acknowledge that the closure was put in place to protect the snapper stocks and to ensure the long-term sustainable harvest of the species.

"These fishers were attempting to gain an unfair advantage on those fishers prepared to do the right thing, by waiting until the closure expired," he said.

An annual snapper closure was introduced in 2000 after concerns were raised about the long-term health of the snapper fishery. The closure is aimed at reducing the potential for overfishing of snapper and to ensure the future sustainability of stocks.