Saddest part of it that the increase is put down to a new penalty of not having a lic on you. So even if you have it, can be identified , can prove you paid for it and can even fax them a copy they are no longer interested. Hearing from a 50yo mate who is the most rule abidling bloke on earth show them the picture of lic on his mobile and still cop a fine is just piss weak and revenue raising. In this day and age they can look log in mobile to the database and see he had paid. Notice how 50% of the focus in the article is on how many $ they had fined. No education in the article at all.
Fishing lic are a joke. Trying to keep up to date with all the rule changes between them and boats is a job in itself. It is the spirit of the rules that is important not petty enforcement. . The serious offences should be persued but not having a original lic on you is a petty thing being enforced in a petty way. Fisheries and their officers will get no respect long term if they act in that manner.