WA Fisheries Minister Peter Tinley has warned that recreational and commercial fishers who flout the rules protecting Western Australia’s inland and ocean fisheries can expect to pay a big price in fines and penalties.
Education and monitoring of our commercial and recreational fishing sectors by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) ensures that WA’s aquatic resources are used in a sustainable and equitable manner.
Interfere with someone else’s lobster pots and you could lose your boat; take trafficable amounts of fish and your vehicle could be seized, or have your fishing rights removed.
In June 2020, a commercial lobster fisher lost fishing entitlements worth an estimated $7.5 million. More recently a recreational fisher forfeited his quadbike and trailer after he was caught taking marron out of season.
To mid-August 2020 43 people were convicted in 28 prosecutions with magistrates’ ordering they pay fines and penalties totalling more than $430,000.
DPIRD compliance officers have the power to issue infringements, which are the fishing equivalent of traffic tickets issued by Police, to remind people about rules and regulations.
Source: WA Government