VICTORIAN FISHERIES AUTHORITY MEDIA RELEASE: BOATS SEIZED FOR ILLEGAL CALAMARI HAULS

[fishingvic]

VICTORIAN FISHERIES AUTHORITY MEDIA RELEASE: BOATS SEIZED FOR ILLEGAL CALAMARI HAULS

Media release
Wednesday 2 January 2019
BOATS SEIZED FOR ILLEGAL CALAMARI HAULS

As part of Operation Jazz, Fisheries Officers have seized two boats and four men will face charges relating to the alleged illegal harvest of calamari near Queenscliff in recent months.
Victorian Fisheries Authority CEO Travis Dowling said more than 210 recreational anglers had been inspected during the operation and most were found to be doing the right thing.
“Port Phillip Bay is in great shape and Target One Million is committed to getting one million Victorians fishing by 2020. Fishing for calamari, snapper and King George whiting is stronger than ever and we want to keep it that way, which needs everyone to fish responsibly and abide by bag and size limits,” Mr Dowling said.
“Operation Jazz ran from October to December 2018 during the peak calamari spawning season when large aggregations gather around the southern end of Port Phillip Bay.
“Fisheries Officers will allege that a boat was used, on two separate days, by various men known to each other, to take more than the daily bag limit of 10 calamari per person. It will be alleged the men made several boat trips in one day, taking calamari on each trip, an activity commonly referred to as multi-tripping.
“One of the men was observed making three separate boat trips on a single day. That vessel was later allegedly found to contain 22 calamari concealed within the vessel.
“Several of the men will be charged with exceeding the catch limit, hindering Fisheries Officers, providing false and misleading information and matters relating to marine safety. They face maximum penalties of up to $27,000 and 12 months imprisonment.
“In another instance, a man had his boat seized for allegedly multi-tripping. Having launched at Sorrento, he drove the boat to Queenscliff where he was observed by officers taking calamari. He was subsequently seen taking more calamari and was inspected later in the day having taken more than twice his daily bag limit.”
Mr Dowling said some infringements notices were also issued during Operation Jazz, including three to one angler for various offences, worth more $1,100 in total.
If you see or suspect illegal fishing call Fisheries’ reporting line 13FISH (133474) anytime. Some of our best intelligence about illegal fishing activity comes from keen recreational anglers, so make the call and make the difference.
Media contact: Justine Severin, 0436 674 804

[smile0784]

Good to see they got caught

[Lightningx]

Good to hear :thumbsup:

[A-a-ron]

Great work by the fishies.

[bluewater81]

Just so people know, do the right thing, there are cameras set up everywhere around the bay now, the footage is so focused that they can even tell what colour your eyes are. Do the right thing for the next generation.

[DougieK]

there are cameras set up everywhere around the bay now, the footage is so focused that they can even tell what colour your eyes are.

What?

[hornet]

Smile ! your on candid camera.

Showing my age now !

[fishnut]

Hope there's no underwater cameras lol

[Hectic habbib]

Good

[A-a-ron]

Four men from St Albans and West Footscray have been arrested after being busted with 173 abalone, more than 11 times the daily bag limit!

Abalone are a valuable commercial fishery in Victoria and prized on the dinner table by recreational divers, most of whom do the right thing and abide by catch limits.

On Christmas Eve, Fisheries Officers observed a boat 500 metres from Seaholm with 4 men aboard, 3 of whom were diving.

The divers allegedly returned to the boat with large bags, then left for Williamstown, where 3 divers again entered the water.

After several hours of diving, the vessel left Williamstown and motored up the Yarra River at speed to Spotswood Jetty, where the non-diver allegedly dropped 2 large catch-bags into the river, got off the boat and remained with the haul.

The boat then departed for Newport boat ramp, where it was inspected, and its 3 occupants arrested.

Fisheries Officers also arrested the fourth man on the jetty and recovered the two catch-bags with the 173 abalone, 122 of which were undersize.

The 4 alleged offenders will be charged with multiple offences including possessing a commercial quantity of abalone and hindering authorised officers. They face heavy penalties of up to $10,000 and/or 5 years imprisonment. The accused men’s boat, dive equipment and all abalone were seized.

If you see or suspect illegal fishing, call our 24-hour reporting line 13FISH (133474) anytime. Even if we can’t respond immediately to your call, the information provided helps us plan future patrols. Make the call and make a difference!