East Keilor man benched with $1500 fine  

27 July 2010

An East Keilor (VIC) man was convicted and fined $1,500 in the Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Monday July 26) after pleading guilty to two fisheries charges stemming from an Indented Heads incident in May this year.

It was alleged the 68 year old man returned from fishing with more than twice the daily catch limit for squid which he attempted to conceal from Fisheries officers under the anchor rope in his boat’s anchor well.

DPI Fisheries Prosecutor Laurie Dri said the wilful and deliberate concealment of squid by the accused to avoid detection was a serious concern.

The court also heard that the man had committed a similar offence in February 2007 at Indented Heads as well as abalone and commercial fishing equipment offences in 2001.

Mr Dri said it is evident from past history that the accused had a propensity for concealing fish and requested the court prohibit the man from recreational fishing.

Magistrate Coghlan said given his past history it was time to ‘spend some time on the bench’ and prohibited the man from recreationally fishing for six months. He also ordered all seized equipment be forfeited and destroyed.

Mr Dri said recreational fishing is a great social activity, but to be available for future generations, it has to be managed in a sustainable way. “Over fishing is putting our fisheries at risk,” he said.

Anyone who sees or suspects illegal fishing activity should call the 24 hour reporting line 13 Fish (13 3474)

back to news