Fisheries officers from the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) have continued to crackdown on the illegal possession and sale of recreationally caught fish.
Acting Director Fisheries Compliance at NSW DPI, Anthony Chen reminded recreational fishers and restaurateurs to follow the rules or they would face the consequences.
Mr Chen said the warning followed a number of convictions of fishers and restaurateurs who had been caught red-handed.
“An Adamstown restaurant has been fined $15,925 after Hunter District Fisheries officers carried out a restaurant inspection where they found and seized 17 untagged eastern rock lobsters (ERL) alleged to have come from an illegitimate source,” Mr Chen said.
“ERL are declared a priority species under the Fisheries Management Act 1994,” he said.
“It is illegal to buy or sell ERL not legally caught by appropriately licenced commercial fishers with NSW DPI lobster tags attached.”
Mr Chen said that in another matter, two individuals were fined $27,450 after they were caught selling recreationally harvested cockles online.
“The Department and the courts take this type of offending very seriously,” he said.
“Recreationally caught fish cannot be sold under any circumstances.”
He said selling recreationally caught fish was a risk to public health as the seafood was not subject to the same stringent testing and handling procedures as legitimate commercial harvest.
“The community is increasingly rejecting all forms of illegal fishing and we thank them for their ongoing support.”
Mr Chen said anyone that suspected illegal activity in NSW should report it to the Fishers Watch phone line on 1800 043 536 or via the online ‘Report illegal activity form’.
The form can be accessed on the NSW DPI website at this PS News link.
