Fisheries Officers Target Illegal Receivers Of Abalone

[Ken A]

The recent arrest of two men in Sydney highlights the fact that NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) fisheries officers not only target illegal divers on the coast but also illegal receivers in local towns and cities.

On the evening of Friday 14 April, fisheries officers from the Fisheries Investigation Unit conducting an investigation into an illegal abalone receiver, raided a residential premises at Dundas in Sydney and intercepted a vehicle that had allegedly delivered illegally taken abalone to this premises.

More than 93 kilograms of abalone (shucked meat weight) from 602 abalone, which included abalone taken from NSW and Victoria, two freezers, a set of scales, two prohibited size eastern rock lobsters, a Toyota Land Cruiser 4WD with hidden compartments and dive gear were seized.

As a result of the raid a 42-year-old man from Dundas and a 35-year-old man from Coogee will face court charged with possessing more than the maximum quantity of fish and possessing fish illegally taken and possessing prohibited size fish.

The maximum fine for each offence is $11 000 and/or three months imprisonment.

NSW DPI Manager Special Operations (Fisheries) Tony Andrews said illicit abalone receivers paid large amounts of money for illegally taken abalone and fostered a demanding international black market.

He said any information relating to illegal diving or fishing activities should immediately be reported to the nearest NSW DPI Fisheries office.

Recreational divers are allowed to take and possess two abalone with a size limit of 11.5 centimetres.

In relation to eastern rock lobster, recreational divers are allowed to take and possess two per person with a size limit of 10.4 centimetres.

'You must have paid a NSW recreational fishing fee to enable you to take abalone or eastern rock lobster,' Mr Andrews said.

Media contact: Sarah Chester on 02 6036 2110 or 0417 207 669.

[BOB_SMITH]

In a de-regulated industry (by Eddie Obeid back in November 2000/2002? sometime) and with high cost recovery and taxes from legitimate participants what would you expect. The risks in being caught are small. The rewards are great. Its like putting up tip fees and then whingeing about all the rubbish left in the bush and at the gate.

Redundancies and budget cuts are being hidden by allocating recreational license monies for compliance. The illegal stuff is outstripping the progress. I believe that the abalone industry especially down south was let run rife for donkeys ages where it was known the bureauracy turned a blind eye on many occassions and catch figures manipulated. Fines and penalities go to consolidated revenue so there is another loss.

Bob Smith

Edited April 26, 2006 by BOB_SMITH

[Grantm]

...meanwhile unlimited numbers of uneducated and unpoliced rec fisho's are filling their buckets with undersize fish on most coastal estuaries. Its good to see a bust on illegal abalone fishing activity but id still love to see more ( my opinion only ) important areas targeted.

There is no where near enough Fisheries staff to do this the way it is being run now.