Illegal netters fined
Tuesday 24 April, 2007

Two men from Cowell have been found guilty in the Whyalla Magistrates Court recently of a number of fisheries related offences including the illegal use of a fishing net.

James Giovanni Panozzo (37) and Stanley Kenneth Miklavec (46) both pleaded guilty and were each fined more than $3,000 including court costs.

On 10 August 2006, the two men were stopped by Fisheries Officers at Shelley Beach in the Franklin Harbour Conservation Park, near Cowell on the State’s West Coast. Officers were responding to information provided by a member of the public.

Fisheries Officers seized a quantity of fish including 156 yellowfin whiting (116 over the daily bag limit for two fishers), 51 garfish (46 were undersize) and six Australian salmon. They also seized a fishing net and other equipment.

PIRSA General Manager Fisheries Services Mr Mark Lewis said the Court had imposed a substantial fine and this reflected the severity of this type of illegal activity.

"The illegal use of fishing nets in South Australian coastal waters will not be tolerated," Mr Lewis said.

This successful outcome also reinforces the role members of the public can play in assisting Fisheries Officers in protecting the State’s fisheries resources from illegal fishing activity."

Anyone witnessing this or any other type of illegal activity should report it to Fisheries Officers via the 24 hour Fishwatch hotline on 1800 065 522.