Moreton Bay trawl fishers fined $10,000 over prohibited fish

A Moreton Bay commercial fisher and his deckhand who were caught with fish not permitted to be taken by the trawl fishery have been fined $10,000 by the courts.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said everyone fishing in popular Moreton Bay waters must fish by the rules to protect fish stocks.

“There is significant competition for access to fisheries resources in Moreton Bay, which makes it susceptible to localised depletion of fish,” Mr Furner said.

Mr Furner said Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers boarded a commercial trawl vessel during routine inspections on 9 February 2018.

“Fisheries officers found nine shark barrels and a white spotted guitarfish, species which are off limits to commercial trawl fishers,” he said.

“A licensed commercial fisher and a deckhand were charged with two counts of unlawfully taking restricted fish species when using a trawler net to fish.”

Sandgate Magistrates Court fined the licence holder $8,000 and the deckhand $2,000 with no conviction recorded.

For information on Queensland’s fishing regulations, visit www.fisheries.qld.gov.au, call 13 25 23 or download the free ‘Qld Fishing’ app from Apple and Google app stores.

ENDS

Media:             Ron Goodman            0427 781 920