23 January 2015 | Media contact: Matilda Abey 0427 355 528
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Abalone thieves to be charged over illegal haul
An anonymous tip-off to the fisheries offence reporting line 13 FISH earlier this month has led to three people allegedly being caught with more than 50 times the daily catch limit for abalone near Mount Eliza.
The group was intercepted by Fisheries Officers at Daveys Bay, between Frankston and Mount Eliza, on 8 January after the 13 FISH caller reported seeing them taking a large quantity of abalone and attempting to sell them on the beach.
The Fisheries Officers observed the group leaving the beach, and intercepted their vehicle on Old Mornington Road where they allegedly found 273 abalone in plastic bags, of which all but 14 were undersize.
The daily catch for abalone in all Victorian waters is five, and the minimum legal length for abalone taken from Port Phillip Bay is 10cm.
The three people allegedly caught with the illegal haul were a 36-year old man from Cranbourne, a 24-year-old man from Frankston and a 22-year-old woman from Frankston.
Fisheries Victoria Officer Chris Thompson said all three people would be charged on summons with a variety of abalone offences.
“The abalone fishery in Port Phillip Bay is placed under a great deal of pressure by these sorts of actions, and Fisheries Victoria rigorously enforces size and catch limits to help preserve local reefs that support abalone,” Mr Thompson said.
“The penalties for taking and possessing commercial quantities of abalone are significant, including jail terms, substantial fines and forfeiture of vehicles and equipment. Offenders can also face lengthy prohibitions on fishing.”
Anybody who sees or suspects illegal fishing activity is urged to call the 24-hour fisheries offence
reporting line 13 FISH (13 3474).
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