A PENSIONER was fined $300 and ordered to pay a mandatory penalty of $2050 in Mandurah Magistrates Court this morning after he caught 41 undersized crabs in the Peel-Harvey Estuary on January 15.
Donald William Hayward (72) pleaded guilty to being in joint possession of a totally protected fish.
The court heard Hayward was crabbing with his nephew at 6.40pm when fisheries caught them with 64 crabs in an esky.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWThe 41 undersized crabs had an average size of 122.8mm.
Magistrate Leanne Atkins said there was a great need for general deterrents in Mandurah as these incidents happen a lot.
“People like you who take undersized crabs cause problems for other crabbers,” she said.
“There will be none left if people like you continue taking undersized crabs.”
Hayward’s nephew was sentenced four weeks ago.