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Commercial fisher found guilty for Price Creek netting offence

MEDIA RELEASE  

Friday, 8 October 2010

A net fisherman has had a criminal conviction recorded against him in the Port Lincoln Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to a serious netting offence.

The commercial fisherman from Port Parham, north of Adelaide, pleaded guilty to charges relating to netting within the Price Creek netting closed area in the northern Yorke Peninsula during May 2009. He was convicted and fined a total of $8000 and ordered to pay prosecution costs and court fees.

Regional Fisheries Manager Central North with PIRSA, Paul Faithow, said that this outcome sends a strong message to other fishers that netting offences are taken extremely seriously and the consequences are quite severe.

“It’s important to note that this particular investigation came as a result of intelligence provided to Fisheries Officers,” he said.

“People should be warned that if they do offend – they will be caught.”

“After receiving information our officers were deployed immediately and upon investigation, the fisherman was found to be netting more than 600 metres inside the closed area,” he said.

“As part of their investigations, Fisheries officers seized 37 fish bins containing just under 450 kilograms of various marine scale fish species.

“The Price Creek netting closure was implemented in 1983 to protect what is an important fish nursery area for species of economic importance to the Gulf St Vincent.”
 
Anyone can report illegal fishing activity through the 24 hour FISHWATCH number on 1800 065 522. Callers can choose to remain anonymous.