Heavy penalties for fisheries court order breach
12 May 2016
A 39-year-old Rosebud West man has been fined $2,000 and ordered to pay $79.64 in court costs for continuing to breach a prohibition order which prevented him from fishing in Victorian waters.
The man pleaded guilty in Frankston magistrate's court last week after being caught fishing twice last year which was a breach of a prohibition order that was originally imposed on him in 2013 for exceeding the catch limit, taking undersized fish and the illegal sale of fish.
His boat, trailer and a fishing rod and reel were forfeited and he was placed on a further 12 month prohibition order.
Regional Supervising Fisheries Officer Dane Robinson said breaching a prohibition order is a very serious offence and carries heavy penalties.
"Prohibition orders are imposed by the courts for offences of a serious nature and where the person is likely to re-offend.
Anyone found guilty of breaching a prohibition order will face a penalty which can include forfeiture of items, fines of up to $14,700 and or 6 months imprisonment as well as being further banned from fishing," Mr Robinson said.
"Fisheries Victoria thoroughly investigates reports of people taking fish for sale, exceeding catch limits and takes matters of people breaching orders very seriously."
Anybody who sees or suspects illegal fishing activity is urged to call the 24-hour fisheries offence reporting line 13 FISH (13 3474).