Fishermen fined, nets destroyed

[Tracker]

check it out!http://dsl.optusnet.com.au/news/story/abc/20060105/20/regional/qld/central_queensland/1542200.inp

[fishingnottake]

will only let optus coustemers view it can you do a cut an paste?

[Tracker]

ok.
Fishermen fined, nets destroyed
11:11 AM January 5

Two 18-year-old men from Emu Park, on the central Queensland coast, have been fined under a new system introduced late last year for fisheries offences.

The fisheries infringement notice system came into force in November to reduce the number of cases going to court.

The men were fined $450 each after being caught in the act of setting a 34-metre net in the Emu Park Creek at Cawarral.

A second net was also found in their boat, and both were seized and destroyed.

The men were also fined $150 for not having navigation lights on their boat at night.

Source: ABC

[beatle]

$450 for setting a 34m net ! A mate and myself were fined ( in NSW ) $500 each for not having our names and addresses on a couple of shrimp traps!!!!!

[slugo]

Lucky they were not in NSW but these QLD fishos were

21 Dec 2005
Three commercial fishermen and two unlicenced crewman have been fined a total of $72,995 for a number of fishing offences committed at South West Rocks more than two years ago.

The five were convicted in the Kempsey Local Court on Monday.

“These charges arose from two separate incidents on 4 May and 14 May 2003 at South West Rocks,” said Department of Primary Industries fisheries manager Max Withnell.

“Ocean hauling nets in New South Wales must only be operated by licenced commercial fishers and licenced hauling crews.”

Mr Withnell said DPI fisheries officers regularly observed beach hauling operations and checked that all regulations were being complied with.

“Fisheries officers gathered enough evidence over lengthy investigations including interviews in Queensland to lay a number of charges against the men,” Mr Withnell said.

The men were convicted on charges including taking fish for sale when unlicensed and unlawful use of nets.

Some of the men were found guilty of aiding and abetting offences under the Crimes Act 1900.

One licenced fisher was from South West Rocks, the remaining licenced fishers and unlicenced crew were from Cooloola Cove, Southport and Coombabah in Queensland.

The beach haul fishery is made up of about 318 commercial fishers in NSW. It is worth approximately $6 million a year. The primary target species of the fishery is the sea mullet.

The men were fined up to as much as $6000 on some of the charges. Professional costs of $2000 a charge were also awarded to the Department of Primary Industries bringing the total amount to $72,995 in fines and costs.

‘Illegal fishers have no regard for the ongoing sustainability of NSW’s fisheries, nor for preserving the environmental values of our State,’ said Mr Withnell.

Media contact: Howard Spencer on 02 6656 8800 or 0428 696 672.