Courts continue stance on lobster and abalone

[nsw_fisheries]

http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/general/News_Room/050705_-_courts_continue_stance_on_lobster_and_abalone_off ences

"This document has been posted for information and to encourage discussion among yourselves. For more information from NSW DPI on the issue, please visit our web site on www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au"

[markpeta]

Not very big fines should just take all thier gear and the seafood shop fine should have been ten times that.

Mark

[INDULGENCE]

Can somebody please explain to me why Abalone is banned from being taken between Port Stephens and Wreck Bay.
Is it because they are suffering a health problem that allows the body to fall away from the shell. I have seen this in my area.
They dont appear to be endangered.
Maybe the lobby group is stronger around accessable diving areas close to Sydney.

Wally

[slugo]

wally
I understand the reason is to give the abalone a chance to make a comeback in numbers after years of raping by illegal divers and selling them on the black market where they can get top dollar for them. I think it is a 5 year ban on abalone and I was certain the legal bag limit is 10 not 2 as the DPI report states.
I will try and post a DPI page for you but Im not computer whiz so here we go.

http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/recreational

[slugo]

I must be a whiz It worked :D

[INDULGENCE]

Thanks 'whiz'
As i understand the bag limit for NSW waters after 1st July just gone is 2 pieces of abalone for rec and 130tonnes for the commercial market.This is a hell of a reduction for both groups.
Also there is a further restriction on the taking of abs by all from Port Stephens to Wreck Bay.
I am trying to understand why this area has been singled out when the major area for supply appears to be the far south coast.

Thanks Wally