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Mid West fishers fined over rule breaches
Date: Friday, 22 May 2009
The discovery of more than 180 kilograms of filleted Spanish mackerel in a Kalbarri house in mid-April has resulted in fines of almost $11,500 for a recreational fisher.
Johann Schumi pleaded guilty in the Geraldton Magistrates Court yesterday (Thursday) to possessing 181 kilograms of fish fillets, in excess of the possession limit. He was fined $500 and ordered to pay an additional mandatory penalty of $10,872.60 for the amount of fish involved, as well as court costs of $114.20.
The maximum quantity of finfish – either whole or in pieces – that you may have in your possession in Western Australia is 20 kg of fillets of fish; or 10 kg of fillets of fish and one-day’s bag limit of whole fish or fish trunks; or two-day’s bag limit of whole fish or fish trunks.
Special possession rules apply specifically to the Abrolhos Islands Fish Habitat Protection Area and there are also some specific possession limits for certain species of fish.
The Geraldton Court heard that a search of freezers at Schumi’s Kalbarri house revealed a total of 221 kilograms of frozen Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel fish fillets in packets ranging in weight from 16 to 22 kilograms
Outside court, Mid West Regional Manager Greg Finlay said Fisheries and Marine Officers had searched the house as a result of helpful information from the community and surveillance of Schumi’s fishing activities.
“Information on suspected illegal fishing from members of the community can be phoned through to our 24 hour FISHWATCH reporting line on 1800 815 507,” Mr Finlay said.
Also in court yesterday, Geoffrey Ronald Pearce of Swan View pleaded guilty to being in possession of 11 undersize western rock lobsters. He was ordered to pay $2,964.20 – made up of a $1,200 fine, mandatory penalty of $1,650 and $114.20 in court costs.
Fisheries and Marine Officers apprehended Pearce at Lucky Bay (north of Port Gregory) on Monday 24 March this year, after finding 11 live lobsters, with a carapace length of less than the applicable legal limit of 76mm, stored in an icebox on a tray top utility.
The court was told that, when the officers later interviewed him, Pearce admitted to capturing the undersize rock lobsters that morning. Undersize lobsters are totally protected fish.
More details of all the rules that apply in the Mid West and other WA fisheries are available on the Department of Fisheries website at www.fish.wa.gov.au.
Johann Schumi pleaded guilty in the Geraldton Magistrates Court yesterday (Thursday) to possessing 181 kilograms of fish fillets, in excess of the possession limit. He was fined $500 and ordered to pay an additional mandatory penalty of $10,872.60 for the amount of fish involved, as well as court costs of $114.20.
The maximum quantity of finfish – either whole or in pieces – that you may have in your possession in Western Australia is 20 kg of fillets of fish; or 10 kg of fillets of fish and one-day’s bag limit of whole fish or fish trunks; or two-day’s bag limit of whole fish or fish trunks.
Special possession rules apply specifically to the Abrolhos Islands Fish Habitat Protection Area and there are also some specific possession limits for certain species of fish.
The Geraldton Court heard that a search of freezers at Schumi’s Kalbarri house revealed a total of 221 kilograms of frozen Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel fish fillets in packets ranging in weight from 16 to 22 kilograms
Outside court, Mid West Regional Manager Greg Finlay said Fisheries and Marine Officers had searched the house as a result of helpful information from the community and surveillance of Schumi’s fishing activities.
“Information on suspected illegal fishing from members of the community can be phoned through to our 24 hour FISHWATCH reporting line on 1800 815 507,” Mr Finlay said.
Also in court yesterday, Geoffrey Ronald Pearce of Swan View pleaded guilty to being in possession of 11 undersize western rock lobsters. He was ordered to pay $2,964.20 – made up of a $1,200 fine, mandatory penalty of $1,650 and $114.20 in court costs.
Fisheries and Marine Officers apprehended Pearce at Lucky Bay (north of Port Gregory) on Monday 24 March this year, after finding 11 live lobsters, with a carapace length of less than the applicable legal limit of 76mm, stored in an icebox on a tray top utility.
The court was told that, when the officers later interviewed him, Pearce admitted to capturing the undersize rock lobsters that morning. Undersize lobsters are totally protected fish.
More details of all the rules that apply in the Mid West and other WA fisheries are available on the Department of Fisheries website at www.fish.wa.gov.au.
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