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Woman cops hefty fine for 60 undersized crabs

Vanessa SchmittMandurah Coastal Times

A WOMAN caught with 60 undersized crabs was fined $3000 when she appeared in Mandurah Magistrates Court today.

Sopha Sinthuprom pleaded guilty to being in possession of undersized crabs.

Department of Fisheries prosecutor Dean Gregory said Sinthuprom was in Nirimba, near South Yunderup, on December 31.

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Mr Gregory said Sinthuprom had 62 crabs in a plastic tub and 60 of them were undersized. They ranged in size from 97mm to 123mm.

Sinthuprom said she was taking the crabs to shore to take a photo and video of them to show family in Thailand. It was then she was intercepted by Fisheries officers.

Sinthuprom said she was going to measure the crabs after because it was difficult to hold the bucket and a torch. She was also being bitten by the crabs.

Magistrate Anne Longden fined Sinthuprom $3000 with $305 in costs.

A fun family activity results in a day in court for a single mother

On the same day, Christy Jo Taylor was fined $1200 after she was caught with 22 undersized crabs.

She pleaded guilty to possessing undersized crabs in Mandurah Court on June 11.

Department of Fisheries prosecutor Dean Gregory said Taylor was intercepted by officers on Greenlands Road, Nirimba on January 5.

She had 22 undersized blue manna crabs in her vehicle.

Taylor said she worked full time and took her sons out crabbing for a fun activity.

She said she was not aware of the regulations and could not find the measuring gauge because it was dark.

Taylor told the court there were three other people crabbing with her, but they had left.

Magistrate Anne Longden said it was a “fun day out until it wasn’t.”

Taylor was granted a spent conviction.