Rocklobster offenders beware – the community has joined arms with PIRSA Fisheries to catch you in the act.

Through a community phone-in campaign, Operation Community, Fisheries Officers on the Limestone Coast are encouraging members of the local community to ring and report people using rock lobster pots illegally.

Senior Fisheries Officer Barry Tarr, said the campaign, held during January, aims to foster a closer partnership between PIRSA Fisheries and the local community in protecting rock lobster stock from illegal fishing.

“We’ve noticed a recent increase in reports regarding gear theft, pot interference and fishers over potting, and this sort of activity impacts not just the future prospects of the fishery, it comes at the expense of the local community,” he said.

“The information people provided will be of great assistance in ensuring the long-term sustainability of our Southern Rocklobster stocks.

“Local Fisheries Officers will be following up on any information received during the campaign in an effort to stop this kind of illegal activity from occurring.”

PIRSA Fisheries has issued a reminder to recreational fishers in the Kingston district of the regulations that apply to pipis (Goolwa Cockles).

PIRSA Fisheries Regional Manager Limestone Coast, Mel Snart, said that it was important that recreational anglers understand that it’s unlawful to take pipis on the Younghusband Peninsula between the River Murray mouth and Kingston SE jetty (Coorong Beach).

“This area is a commercial-only fishing zone so recreational anglers need to be aware that it is unlawful for them to take pipis from the area,” she said.

“A new bag limit was also introduced for the pipi fishery for the 2009-2010 season, halving the legal bag limit from 600 to 300 pipi per person.

PIRSA Fisheries has issued a strong warning to would-be fishing offenders following two recent abalone busts on the Yorke Peninsula.

PIRSA Fisheries Regional Manager Central North, Paul Faithow, said that, officers patrolling the Yorke Peninsula during December as part of Operation Blade, caught a number of people clearly ignoring the rules.

“This particular operation focused on the detection of abalone offenders, and involved officers from our Yorketown and Kadina offices as well as cooperation from SA Police,” he said.

At Cape Elizabeth, two men were issued expiations totalling $1440 after they were found taking 32 abalone of which 26 were undersized, exceeding the daily bag limit and failing to carry a measuring device.

At Parsons Beach, three men were reported for taking 631 abalone, of which only two were legal size, exceeding the daily bag limit, as well as trafficking charges.

The maximum penalty for abalone trafficking offences in South Australia is $100,000 in fines or four years imprisonment. The maximum penalty for taking undersized abalone is $5000.

“The vehicle the three men were using was also seized by Fisheries Offices as it was used in the commission of the offence,” Mr Faithow said.

“Considering that the daily bag limit for abalone is five and the boat limit is 10, these men were showing a blatant disregard for the rules, and clearly looking to profit through an organised, illegal fishing operation.

“Future would-be offenders should take these busts as a warning – our officers will continue to patrol local beaches on the look out for illegal fishing activity.

PIRSA Fisheries has expressed its disappointment with a significant number of recreational fishers caught ignoring the pipi (Goolwa cockle) regulations last weekend.

PIRSA Fisheries Senior Fisheries Officer David Grant said that during the weekend of January 9-10, officers patrolling the Victor Harbor and Goolwa Beach areas were concerned by the number of people found ignoring the rules.

“On the Goolwa Beach alone, we spoke to more than 1000 people, checking their catch and handing out new plastic pipi measuring gauges,” he said.

“Of these people, we issued 10 expiations and three written cautions for taking undersized pipis, and a further four expiations for exceeding the daily bag limit.

“Our officers also had to return more than 15,000 undersized pipis to the water.”

Mr Grant said that officers also issued four expiations in the Victor Harbor area for offences including taking undersized rock lobster and interfering with another persons rock lobster pot. 

The Fishcare Volunteer team have been busy during January, with the team making stops in Waikerie and Port Lincoln, to help spread the sustainable fishing message.

The team headed to Port Lincoln as part of the Tunarama Festival where they handed out measuring gauges for Pipis and Blue Swimmer crabs as well as various PIRSA Fisheries brochures.

In Waikerie, the group talked to people the 2010 closure of the Murray Cod fishery.

Fishcare Volunteers are a group run through PIRSA Fisheries, and play an essential role in educating recreational fishers through face-to-face contact. Fishers are provided with important advice and assistance to ensure they don’t over fish and there’s enough fish for the future.

If you have some spare time, are interested in fishing and enjoy the great outdoors please contact the State Fishcare Volunteer Coordinator on 8347 6100 to find out more about becoming a volunteer, or visit the PIRSA website at http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/fisheries/recreational_fishing/fishcare_volunteers2

Anglers often ask Fisheries Officers if they can fillet their fish at sea.

You cannot cut up, fillet or otherwise mutilate fish on a boat (except for scaling and gutting) unless the fish or crabs are to be eaten on board.

This rule applies to fish and crabs that are subject to legal minimum lengths.

An exception to the rule is shark. For shark species with size limits (gummy and school only), you may remove the head as long as the fifth gill slit remains intact.