Murray cod, yabbies seized in illegal fishing crackdown
THREE men have had their boat and fish seized after being caught using drum nets in the Darling River at Menindee, says State Fisheries compliance director, Glenn Tritton.
“The men were apprehended earlier this month during a night-time surveillance operation conducted by I&I NSW Fisheries officers into ongoing illegal fishing activities in the far west of New South Wales,” Mr Tritton said.
“It’s alleged the men, a 63-year-old from Menindee and two Sydney men, aged 22 and 24, were using two cord drum nets which are illegal to use in NSW waters.
“The two cord drum nets, a 12-foot punt and 9.9hp outboard were seized, as well as four large Murray cod, weighing a total of 45kg and three golden perch.”
The Menindee man will face court on six charges including the unlawful use of nets, possess fish unlawfully taken, exceed the daily bag limit of Murray cod, take fish for sale, take commercially protected species for sale and land fish for sale in an unlicensed boat.
The two other men will face court on charges including unlawful use of nets and possess fish unlawfully taken.
In another area of inland NSW, two men have been apprehended during the month after being detected by Fisheries officers on a routine patrol using illegal fishing equipment in irrigation canals, near Mulwala, on the NSW/Victorian border.
It is alleged the men were using 45 illegally constructed yabby traps.
The yabby traps, a box trailer and 731 yabbies were seized.
The men, aged 57 and 79, both from Mulwala, have been issued several $500 penalty notices for the unlawful use of traps and taking yabbies for sale.
“It’s disappointing that time and time again we’re getting people that completely disregard the hard work that’s going into sustaining our fisheries resources,” says Mr Tritton.
“Illegal fishing threatens valuable fish stocks and undermines licensed commercial yabby fishers and the regional economies they support.
“We are serious about fisheries crime, we will continue to target illegal fishing and the threat it poses to the sustainability of our fisheries resource.”
Report illegal fishing to the Fisher’s Watch Phone Line on 1800 043 536 or your local I&I NSW Fisheries Officer.
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