You Are Here: HOME > Media Releases
Media Releases
Mid West Fisheries officers seize fish after house search
Date: Monday, 20 April 2009
A search of a Kalbarri house last Wednesday (15 April 2009) has led to the seizure of more than 180 kilograms of filleted fish – believed to be from Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel.
Department of Fisheries Mid West Regional Manager Greg Finlay said recreational catches of mackerel had been good in Kalbarri over the holiday period and most fishers had been adhering to size and bag limits, but there had been fines issued.
“Due to the high catch of mackerel and the large number of recreational fishers holidaying in the area, a higher level of fisheries presence was undertaken,” Mr Finlay said. Patrols at Kalbarri in the past week have issued a number of infringements – mainly for offences where fishers had been found to be taking undersize rock lobsters or failing to tail clip them.
“However, on 15 April, as a result of information received from the community and covert surveillance, Fisheries and Marine Officers from Geraldton executed a search warrant at a Kalbarri house and found a large quantity of processed fish in storage.
“181 kilograms of fillets in excess of the legal possession limit have been seized and we expect to lay charges after the current investigation is completed.”
The maximum quantity of finfish – either whole or in pieces – that you may have in your possession in Western Australia is:
Mr Finlay said the maximum penalty that could apply to a recreational fisher found guilty of breaching the possession limit laws under the Fish Resources Management Act was $5,000 for a first offence.
“If a person is convicted they also have to pay a mandatory penalty, which is equal to 10 times the prescribed value of fish involved,” he said. “In this case that could lead to a potential penalty of $10,860.”
More details of all the rules that apply in the Mid West and other WA fisheries are available on the Department of Fisheries website at www.fish.wa.gov.au.
Select the Recreational Fishing section on the home page menu and then click on the area of the map relevant to you to find the Recreational Fishing Guide for your region.
Department of Fisheries Mid West Regional Manager Greg Finlay said recreational catches of mackerel had been good in Kalbarri over the holiday period and most fishers had been adhering to size and bag limits, but there had been fines issued.
“Due to the high catch of mackerel and the large number of recreational fishers holidaying in the area, a higher level of fisheries presence was undertaken,” Mr Finlay said. Patrols at Kalbarri in the past week have issued a number of infringements – mainly for offences where fishers had been found to be taking undersize rock lobsters or failing to tail clip them.
“However, on 15 April, as a result of information received from the community and covert surveillance, Fisheries and Marine Officers from Geraldton executed a search warrant at a Kalbarri house and found a large quantity of processed fish in storage.
“181 kilograms of fillets in excess of the legal possession limit have been seized and we expect to lay charges after the current investigation is completed.”
The maximum quantity of finfish – either whole or in pieces – that you may have in your possession in Western Australia is:
- 20 kg of fillets of fish;
- or 10 kg of fillets of fish and one day’s bag limit of whole fish or fish trunks; or
- two days’ bag limit of whole fish or fish trunks.
Mr Finlay said the maximum penalty that could apply to a recreational fisher found guilty of breaching the possession limit laws under the Fish Resources Management Act was $5,000 for a first offence.
“If a person is convicted they also have to pay a mandatory penalty, which is equal to 10 times the prescribed value of fish involved,” he said. “In this case that could lead to a potential penalty of $10,860.”
More details of all the rules that apply in the Mid West and other WA fisheries are available on the Department of Fisheries website at www.fish.wa.gov.au.
Select the Recreational Fishing section on the home page menu and then click on the area of the map relevant to you to find the Recreational Fishing Guide for your region.
| < Previous | Top |
