A WESTERN Sydney man will is to face court on serious charges after being apprehended by Department of Primary Industries (DPI) fisheries officers on the South Coast near Bawley Point, allegedly in possession of a large quantity of abalone.
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The exact date of the offence is unknown but the Times understand it was last week.
DPI Acting Director of Fisheries Compliance, Tony Andrews, said the apprehension was a direct result of information provided by the public regarding suspicious diving activity in the vicinity of Brush Island.
“Officers conducted surveillance for some time on a vehicle believed to be involved,” he said.
When Fisheries officers checked the driver on his return to his vehicle, they allegedly found him to be in possession of 168 shucked abalone weighing almost 13 kilograms.
The possession limit for abalone is two per person per day in waters open to their taking and it is an offence to have shucked abalone in your possession in, on or adjacent to waters.
The alleged offender will be summonsed to appear in court to answer serious charges of trafficking in abalone, being in possession of more than the bag limit of abalone in circumstances of aggravation and possessing shucked abalone.
Mr Andrews said the alleged offender could face imprisonment for up to 10 years for trafficking, fines of up to $44,000 and up to 12 months imprisonment for first offence for possession of abalone in circumstances of aggravation, a fine of up to $5,500 for possession of shucked abalone and an additional penalty of up to ten times the market value of the seized abalone.
Diving gear and the abalone in the possession of the alleged offender at the time were seized by Fisheries officers.
Mr Andrews said this apprehension was due to the vigilance of a concerned member of the public in promptly reporting what they believed to be illegal activity.
“I urge anybody suspecting that they are witnessing illegal fishing activity to do the same by immediately calling 1800 043 536, or completing the online report form,” Mr Andrews said.
“Your assistance will help our Fisheries officers ensure sustainable fisheries for future generations.”
As reported in the Times last week, recent jail terms issued in NSW for abalone trafficking are some of the heavies penalties issued for Fisheries offences in Australia.
“Local courts are continuing to send a clear message to those that steal abalone,” according to Fisheries NSW Director of Compliance, Glenn Tritton.
In one of the cases, a 39-year-old man from Mogo was sentenced in Batemans Bay Local Court to 15 months in jail with a six months non-parole period for charges relating to abalone trafficking, possession of prohibited size abalone in circumstances of aggravation and shucking abalone adjacent to waters.
He was also fined $2400.
The man was found in possession of 158 abalone during a Fisheries compliance operation at Kioloa in April 2010.
Mr Tritton said abalone trafficking was a serious business and one that Fisheries NSW takes very seriously.
He said Fisheries officers would continue to target illegal fishing activity across the state.
- Information concerning illegal abalone activity can be reported to the State-wide Operations and Investigations Group on 6499 8000. For more information on NSW fishing rules go to www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au
