Abalone divers busted for illegal activity

12 February 2018

Two men from Parkville and a man from Endeavor Hills will be charged on summons and have had their diving equipment seized for allegedly taking a commercial quantity of undersized abalone on the Mornington Peninsula last weekend.

Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) Director of Education and Enforcement Ian Parks said officers conducting a patrol apprehended the men near Flinders at an area known locally as 'The Quarry'.

"A team of Fisheries Officers in a patrol vessel launched from Cowes, supported by officers on two Personal Water Craft (PWC) from Mornington, approached the men at approximately 10:30am last Saturday," Mr Parks said.

"As the officers approached, the men allegedly threw their catch bag into the water. This was later recovered by VFA divers deployed from the PWC's who recovered the bag along with a second bag found onshore.

"On inspection, the bags revealed the men had allegedly taken a total of 112 abalone, of which 105 were undersize. The men were then apprehended and the abalone were returned back to the water alive. Fortunately, fisheries officers were able to disrupt this operation and prevent the loss of further abalone."

Mr Parks said abalone poaching threatens the sustainability of the fishery and opportunities for future generations of fishers.

The VFA is committed to detecting, disrupting and dismantling serious and organised fisheries offenders having the greatest impact on the sustainability of the resource.

"The penalty for taking a commercial quantity of abalone is up to 5 years imprisonment."

People who see or suspect illegal fishing activity should call the Fisheries offence reporting line 13FISH (133474).