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Greedy fisher fined over large haul of undersize snapper
Date: Thursday, 17 September 2009
A recreational fisher from Alexander Heights has been fined almost $2,260 for fishing offences, after he was found with 42 undersize pink snapper.
54 year-old Blagoj PANOV had 69 fish on his vessel, when Fisheries and Marine Officers searched his vessel at Hillarys Boat Harbour on Wednesday 13 May this year (2009).
In the Joondalup Court yesterday (Wednesday 16 September), it was revealed that the undersize snapper were concealed at the stern of the vessel and that a Department of Fisheries measuring ruler was affixed on board.
Panov entered a plea of guilty and Magistrate Giuseppe Randazzo issued him a fine and penalty totalling $815 for taking an excess number of pink snapper. He was given a further fine and mandatory penalty of $1330.50 for being in possession of the undersize pink snapper, which are a totally protected fish. The offender was also ordered to pay court costs of $114.20.
North Metropolitan Region Compliance Manager Todd A’Vard said the Fisheries and Marine Officers who apprehended Panov were shocked at seeing such a large number of undersize fish in one haul.
“They were well and truly undersize,” Mr A’Vard said, “the average size of the undersize pink snapper was 223 millimetres. The minimum legal size for pink snapper, taken south of Lancelin, is 450 millimetres.
“Pink snapper is one of the high risk species and the daily bag limit in the West Coast Bioregion is two fish per fisher. In metropolitan waters, between Two Rocks and Cape Bouvard, only one of those fish can exceed 70cm in length.
“It is also worth pointing out that the waters of both Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds will shortly close to fishing for pink snapper from Thursday 1 October and they will remain closed to pink snapper fishing until 31 January next year.”
Mr A’Vard said the sustainability rules were very important, especially in light of current concerns over demersal species in the West Coast Bioregion, which attracted around 80 per cent of Western Australia’s recreational fishing effort.
“In this case a member of the public alerted Fisheries and Marine Officers to the offences that were uncovered and we thank them for their support,” he said.
Anyone who has information on illegal fishing activity should call the Department of Fisheries 24-hour FISHWATCH number on 1800 815 507.
54 year-old Blagoj PANOV had 69 fish on his vessel, when Fisheries and Marine Officers searched his vessel at Hillarys Boat Harbour on Wednesday 13 May this year (2009).
In the Joondalup Court yesterday (Wednesday 16 September), it was revealed that the undersize snapper were concealed at the stern of the vessel and that a Department of Fisheries measuring ruler was affixed on board.
Panov entered a plea of guilty and Magistrate Giuseppe Randazzo issued him a fine and penalty totalling $815 for taking an excess number of pink snapper. He was given a further fine and mandatory penalty of $1330.50 for being in possession of the undersize pink snapper, which are a totally protected fish. The offender was also ordered to pay court costs of $114.20.
North Metropolitan Region Compliance Manager Todd A’Vard said the Fisheries and Marine Officers who apprehended Panov were shocked at seeing such a large number of undersize fish in one haul.
“They were well and truly undersize,” Mr A’Vard said, “the average size of the undersize pink snapper was 223 millimetres. The minimum legal size for pink snapper, taken south of Lancelin, is 450 millimetres.
“Pink snapper is one of the high risk species and the daily bag limit in the West Coast Bioregion is two fish per fisher. In metropolitan waters, between Two Rocks and Cape Bouvard, only one of those fish can exceed 70cm in length.
“It is also worth pointing out that the waters of both Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds will shortly close to fishing for pink snapper from Thursday 1 October and they will remain closed to pink snapper fishing until 31 January next year.”
Mr A’Vard said the sustainability rules were very important, especially in light of current concerns over demersal species in the West Coast Bioregion, which attracted around 80 per cent of Western Australia’s recreational fishing effort.
“In this case a member of the public alerted Fisheries and Marine Officers to the offences that were uncovered and we thank them for their support,” he said.
Anyone who has information on illegal fishing activity should call the Department of Fisheries 24-hour FISHWATCH number on 1800 815 507.
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