A 68-year-old Westminster man has lost his recreational fishing licence for two years and been issued fines totalling $3,283.20 for abalone fishing offences and abusing compliance officers on 18 February this year.
The man, who did not appear in court last Friday or enter a plea, was observed coming ashore with a catch bag with 19 abalone – four more than the daily bag limit of 15.
Officers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) were also subject to verbal abuse and threats when the offender was asked to provide his name and address.
The court heard that DPIRD officers should be able to carry out their duties without worrying about whether their instructions will be followed or if they’ll be abused.
In another case before Joondalup Court last Friday, a 36-year-old man from Quinns Rocks who did not appear or enter any plea, was ordered to pay $7,700 in fines and costs.
DPIRD officers inspected his vessel at Mindarie Marina on 21 December last year and located eight legal tail clipped western rock lobsters in a blue esky on board.
Officers also found a ninth rock lobster concealed under the deck at the stern of the vessel which was not tail clipped as required for recreationally caught lobsters.
Despite the man’s assurance there weren’t any other rock lobsters on board, an additional five unclipped western rock lobster were located inside a black wetsuit tucked away at the bow of the vessel.
A further two lobsters, which also were not clipped, were found concealed in the vessel’s stern.
One of the eight unclipped rock lobsters found concealed on the vessel.
In total, the offender had twice the daily bag limit of western rock lobsters. DPIRD officers seized the eight non-tail clipped rock lobsters found alive and released them back into the water at the Mindarie Marina jetty.
DPIRD's Director Regional Compliance Metro Todd A’Vard said that despite offenders attempts to abuse officers or hide catch, our compliance officers carry out their jobs professionally and thoroughly and hold offenders to account.
“We have zero tolerance for those behaviours and the message from the courts is they will also ensure serious repercussions for those who try it on,” Mr A’Vard said.