Illegal multi-trip fishing will not be tolerated
Wednesday 29 August, 2007
Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA) Fisheries has issued a warning to all recreational fishers that multi-trip fishing, which exceeds the daily bag and boat limits in South Australia will not be tolerated.
The warning comes after Fisheries Officers on Kangaroo Island issued an on-the-spot-fine to two men for exceeding their daily bag limit after undertaking multiple fishing trips.
This practice, known as ‘multi-tripping’ is illegal. The rules state that bag and boat limits in SA apply for the 24 hour period from midnight to midnight.
This means that once a fisher has caught their bag limit of a certain species, they must wait until after midnight before they can catch more of that species.
PIRSA Fisheries, Manager Compliance Operations, Mr Paul Tatarelli said the men had caught their daily bag limit of fish and returned to shore. They then went out again later that same day, catching more of the same species.
“We have received recent reports that this practice may be on the increase. Fishers are reminded that this type of activity is illegal and equivalent to catching over the bag limit,” Mr Tatarelli said.
“Daily bag and boat limits are put in place to allow fishers to catch a fair feed of fish. Multi-tripping needs to be discouraged as it has the potential to put additional pressure on fish numbers and impact the long-term health of fish stocks.”
Any illegal fishing activities should be reported by calling the 24 hour FISHWATCH hotline on 1800 065 522.
