MORE people have been fined for having undersized crabs after going through a Fisheries roadside operation in Karnup.
Fisheries and Marine officers at the checkpoint stopped a car just after 11.30pm on Saturday, December 17.
They found the passenger with 42 undersize blue swimmer crabs.
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READ NOWThe 21-year-old Girrawheen man was fined $2788 at Rockingham Magistrates Court on June 23.
Supervising Fisheries and Marine Officer Darren Schofield said the December roadside operation checked about 1000 vehicles and involved Fisheries officers from Mandurah, Rockingham and Fremantle, Peel Water Police and officers from Rockingham Police.
“This offender was the last of six people who faced court on matters arising from our temporary roadside checkpoint, in which more than 50 people from more than 30 vehicles were found to have committed fishing offences,” he said.
“There were 29 formal warnings issued, 20 infringement fines – ranging for $200 to $1000 – were issued and the six people prosecuted in court were ordered by magistrates to pay fines, penalties and costs varying between $1488 and $3388.
“In the worst case, the offender was found in possession of 44 undersize blue swimmer crabs.”
Size limits are important in fisheries management and vital in ensuring that fish or crustaceans are allowed to grow and contribute to breeding for their species, and to ensure future generations of fishers continue to enjoy recreational fishing in WA.
Information on rules, limits and gear is available in the department’s Recreational Fishing Guide, which can be found at www.fish.wa.gov.au.
A multi-lingual guide on crabbing for blue swimmer crabs is also available.
The current Mandurah crab fishing season ends on August 31 and Cockburn Sound is closed to crab fishing until further notice.
Anyone with information on illegal fishing activity should call FishWatch on 1800 815 507.
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