Reef pickers get suspended jail sentence
Friday 21 April, 2006

Two men have been given a suspended jail sentence and each fined more than $9,000 after pleading guilty to taking a quantity of abalone and other assorted shell fish from an intertidal reef at Hallett Cove back in January 2003.

Appearing earlier this month at the Christies Beach Magistrates Court, Mr Van Nhu Huynh (76) and Mr Van Muoi Huynh (27), both of Athol Park, were found guilty of a range of fisheries offences and were sentenced to 3 months jail, which the Magistrate suspended on condition that the defendants enter into a three year good behavior bond.

The men were also fined a total of $9044.55 including court costs.

Fisheries Officers from Primary Industries and Resources South Australia (PIRSA) reported a total of four men on 17 January 2003 for collecting shellfish from the intertidal reef area at Hallett Cove. They were responding to a call to the Fishwatch telephone service from a member of the public.

When stopped by the officers, the four were found to be in possession of a quantity of shellfish including 459 undersized abalone. The abalone and other shellfish were seized.

The two other men, Mr Van Hein Ly (48) of Waterloo Corner and Mr Thanh Nha Le (35) of Woodville North will be sentenced in late May when they will answer further charges arising from a second, similar offence that occurred two days later also at Hallett Cove.

PIRSA Fisheries Manager Compliance Operations, Mr Paul Tatarelli asked the public to continue to be watchful and to provide information about any illegal fishing activity to Fishwatch.

“It is illegal to remove any plants or animals from any intertidal rocky reefs in South Australia out to a water depth of two metres,” he said.

“A sentence that includes a term of imprisonment, even if it is suspended, plus a substantial fine, surely sends a clear message to any one contemplating this type of illegal activity.”

The 24 hour Fishwatch phone number is 1800 065 522.