Point Walter: husband and wife fined for possessing undersized crabs

A HUSBAND and wife have been fined $1500 for possessing protected undersized blue swimmer crabs.

Thanh Phong and Muoi Hai Thi Vo both pleaded guilty to possessing a totally protected fish and assaults/hinder/obstructs a fisheries officer while performing duty at Fremantle Magistrates Court today .

Mr and Mrs Vo were at Point Walter Reserve crabbing about 10 metres from shore when they were approached by fisheries officers, asked to come back to shore and not empty a blue esky.

The accused did not come to shore and emptied the esky before returning to shore.

Officers found four crabs which were less than the minimum size of 127mm.

Both admitted to the offences, with the wife admitting to throwing away the crabs after her husband asked her to and the husband admitted to catching the crabs.

The maximum penalty for such an offence is $10,000 and up to one year in prison.

The couple received a fine of $1500, were ordered to pay costs of $205.30 and were slugged with an additional $100 penalty.