Media Release: FINE AND THREE MONTH JAIL SENTENCE FOR BALLARAT MAN

[fishingvic]

Media release
Friday 24 November, 2017

FINE AND THREE MONTH JAIL SENTENCE FOR BALLARAT MAN

A Haddon man has been jailed for three months, fined $5,000 and banned from fishing for
seven years after being found guilty in the Geelong Magistrates Court of 26 charges under
the Fisheries Act.
Queenscliff Fisheries Officer Brad Smith said the 52 year-old man was found guilty after
being apprehended by Fisheries Officers in October 2016 in a vessel on Port Phillip Bay near
Clifton Springs.
Mr Smith said when officers attempted to inspect the male he confronted them and was
extremely hostile and aggressive, refused to co-operate, and provided a false name and
address a number of times for well over an hour.
As a result of his behaviour officers were unable to complete their inspection or establish if
he was licenced to fish. Water Police attended in support, but were also unable to safely
board the vessel.
Magistrate McGarvie heard the matter, where three Fisheries Officers provided detailed
evidence of the incident. Ms McGarvie found the man guilty of all charges.
She was scathing of his behaviour stating that “this was a disgraceful exhibition of contempt
and disdain for authority. It was one of the most egregious examples of behaviour I have
seen from anyone dealing with anyone in authority”.
As well as the sentence and fine, the man was ordered to pay $6,722 in costs, and under
Section 130 of the Fisheries Act he is prohibited from being on a vessel less than 20 metres
in length that has fishing equipment on Victorian waters or undertaking, or otherwise, being
involved in any form of fishing in Victoria for seven years.
The Victorian Fisheries Authority conducted well over 48,000 inspections of fishers last
financial year to promote sustainable, responsible and safe fishing.
The vast majority of fishers provide assistance to fisheries officers in the inspection process,
and many exercise excellent stewardship of the resource by reporting illegal fishing to the 13
FISH (13 3474) hotline.
Quotes attributable to Mr. Smith:
“This result sends a clear message to not only the accused, but anyone undertaking fishing
activities that this type of behaviour toward Fisheries Officers’ will not be tolerated, and will
be met with heavy penalties”

[Boonanza]

Well about time someone had the book thrown at them :thumbsup:

[azkay]

So he got jail, $5000 fine, $6722 court costs and 7 year ban for being hostile, not letting them board and providing false information? There has to be more! Surely we're not being told everything and this is a self serving article to say 'don't mess with us' - not that i'm condoning the behaviour..

[Lightningx]

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[one2three]

:super: :thumbsup:

[gregmaka]

No mention on what illegal fishing he did, must have been just a criminal offence. A bit more detail would be good.

[smile0784]

Its about time

[bilby]

The report says that the officers were unable to board and inspect at the time of the incident. It would appear that the penalty is for obstructive and aggressive behaviour - you would get the same with intimidating or refusing to comply with a police officer.

[dazz999]

ha he can suffer in his jocks its easy play by the rules

[Queasy]

The report says that the officers were unable to board and inspect at the time of the incident. It would appear that the penalty is for obstructive and aggressive behaviour - you would get the same with intimidating or refusing to comply with a police officer.

26 separate charges just for obstruction seems a high number tho.