DPI Release 24-5-13

[poppy62]

Media release: Stiff penalties imposed in Warrnambool abalone cases
24 May 13
Two more cases of abalone offences in Warrnambool recently.
Three men appeared in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court this week charged with abalone and commercial fishing equipment offences.
In the first of two abalone related cases heard, the court was told that on December 11 last year, Fisheries Officers observed three men, aged in their forties and fifties, taking abalone from the intertidal zone at Griffith Island, Port Fairy.
Senior Fisheries Officer Ian Westhorpe said two men were observed carrying mesh bags full of abalone in a covert manner in an attempt to avoid detection, while the third male pretended to be fishing while keeping watch.
“Later that evening, all three left the island after leaving their bags of dive equipment and abalone hidden among the rocks out on the reef,” Mr Westhorpe said.
“They drove off in their car and stopped a short distance away before returning approximately 25 minutes later.”
Mr Westhorpe said after nightfall all three then walked back out to the reef and retrieved the various bags before returning to their vehicle.
“Fisheries Officers intercepted the vehicle in the car park and in the boot of the car found various bags of abalone both in the shell and shucked,” he said.
“In total there were 304 abalone, with 173 under the 13cm size limit. A small number of other molluscs were also taken.
“The three men were interviewed at the Warrnambool Police Station and their equipment, mobile phones and car were seized.”
Mr Westhorpe said Fisheries Officers later search through one of their mobile phones which revealed images and video of further offences involving the possession of commercial fishing nets and large quantities of bream. These images and videos date back to 2011.
Two of the men were then charged with further offences relating to the possession of commercial mesh nets.
All three pleaded guilty this week to all charges, including taking of a commercial quantity of abalone.
Magistrate Klestadt convicted and fined two of the offenders $7,500 with costs and the third offender $5,000 with costs. In addition to the fines, all three were sentenced to one month’s jail wholly suspended for two years.
The vehicle, mobile phones and dive equipment were all forfeited to the crown.
In a separate matter, another two men appeared in court also charged with various abalone offences.
The court heard that the two men, one aged in his fifties and the other in his late sixties, were inspected by Fisheries Officers on December 29 last year while part of a larger group of people at Eagle Rock just west of Thunder Point near Warrnambool.
When the Officers approached the group, one of the men attempted to obstruct them by disposing of his catch. This man was later interviewed and admitted taking an extra three undersize abalone that were shucked.
The second offender was found to have one undersize abalone. On the following day both offenders were again observed approximately 1.5 kilometres further west of Eagle Rock, again taking abalone from the intertidal zone.
At the completion of their activities, Fisheries Officers observed both men stuffing bags of abalone meats inside their shorts.
On inspection both men showed the officers the five legal size abalone in their catch bags but denied having taken any further abalone. When the allegation was put to them along with their possible arrest they revealed the other bags of abalone that were hidden in their shorts.
The men had an additional six and eight undersize abalone meats hidden respectively in plastic bags. They were again interviewed and all their dive equipment were seized.
Both pleaded guilty and both were convicted and fined $1,500 with costs and all their equipment forfeited.
Mr Westhorpe reminded the public that taking abalone from the intertidal zone (waters less than 2m deep) is prohibited along the entire Victorian coast and that a possession limit of 10 abalone applies anywhere in Victoria.
Anyone who sees or suspects illegal fishing is urged to call the 24-hour fisheries offence reporting line 13 FISH (13 3474).

Media contact: Melanie Curtis (03) 5561 9938

[benjic1000]

Are you shizening me??!! How soft is the law! They went back the next day and did it again. What a %$#@ed country.

[Fish-Hunter]

I have no Sympathy for those who think they can rape our natural resources :down:

[benjic1000]

Seriously what kind of a deterrent is a pissy little fine? Makes me almost WANT to become an ab poacher!

And this is the title!- "Stiff penalties imposed in Warrnambool abalone cases".
Should read- "****-weak penalties imposed"

[Rod Bender]

Seriously what kind of a deterrent is a pissy little fine? Makes me almost WANT to become an ab poacher!

And this is the title!- "Stiff penalties imposed in Warrnambool abalone cases".
Should read- "****-weak penalties imposed"

Yes!