Three charged following tip-off
Friday 15 September, 2006

Two men and one woman, all from Ottoway, will be charged with a range of fisheries offences including one charge of hindering a Fisheries Officer after the investigation into a tip-off from a member of the public through the Fishwatch hotline (1800 065 522).

Fisheries Officers stopped the trio at about 10:30pm on Wednesday 13 September at Port Prime, a popular crabbing beach north of Adelaide.

It will be alleged that the three were in possession of 421 blue swimmer crabs (daily bag limit is 40 per person), 264 of which were under the legal minimum length of 11cms. Officers seized the crabs, together with a quantity of fishing equipment.

PIRSA Fisheries, Manager Fisheries Compliance Operations, Mr Paul Tatarelli said it was disappointing start to the season.

"A lot of resources have been invested in educating fishers about the rules that apply to crabbing in South Australia."

"Last year alone we distributed more than 20,000 free crab measuring gauges to the fishing public."

"Despite these efforts, there seems to be high levels of non-compliance in this particular fishery."

"Fisheries Officers will increase patrols to all crabbing beaches through out the season in an attempt to address this situation and won’t hesitate to instigate prosecution proceedings against anyone found contravening the law," Mr Tatarelli said.