Roadside compliance operations in the State’s north during the recent school holidays checked 1862 travellers for fishing offences and found a high level of compliance with WA’s fishing laws.
The checkpoint on the North West Coastal Highway near the Denham turn-off involved Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) officers from Denham, Carnarvon, Lancelin, Fremantle and Mandurah with support from Denham and Geraldton police officers.
The operations on 12 and 15 July checked southbound travellers from Karratha, Port Hedland, Exmouth, Coral Bay, Carnarvon, and the Shark Bay area and found the majority abided by the recreational fishing possession limits.
DPIRD’s officers weighed fishers’ catches and only 10 offences were detected, which included exceeding fillet possession limits and failing to label filleted fish.
Approximately 17 kilograms of excess fish fillets were seized, and those offences will likely be dealt with through infringement and warning notices.
Special operations like roadside checks are carried out around Western Australia each year and will continue to be part of DPIRD’s strategy to monitor compliance with the State’s fishing laws.
DPIRD compliance officers carried out the roadside checks
DPIRD’s Denham-based Supervising Fisheries and Marine Officer Jack Dawson said it was great to see a large majority of the travellers had not breached catch limits or other fishing rules.
“The overwhelming sentiment from the public was appreciation and many commented that it was great to see our fishing compliance officers doing this kind of work,” Mr Dawson said.
“We inspected over 100 vessels that were being towed by travellers.”
Anyone who suspects any kind of illegal fishing activity is urged to report their concerns to
FishWatch on
1800 815 507.
If you have seen something involving fish or fishing which doesn’t look quite right, the FishWatch phone line operates 24-7 for easy reporting, or alternatively use
the online form on Crimestoppers.