Maribyrnong River not the place for mesh nets

13 May 2016

A 59 year-old Bentleigh man will be charged with the use and possession of prohibited mesh nets, as well as taking undersize bream from the Maribyrnong River earlier this week.

Fisheries Victoria Officer Dane Robinson said the man was allegedly observed paddling across the river around 8.30pm in an inflatable raft before being apprehended by Fisheries officers.

"The man was observed by officers tending to plastic bottle floats with ropes attached and a short time later was intercepted after he left the river and got into his vehicle," Mr Robinson said.

"His vehicle was searched and a 30 metre long trammel net uncovered, as well as two other trammel nets measuring 19 and 24 metres each.

"Seven bream were also found entangled in the nets, one of which was undersize at just 22 centimetres.

"Fortunately the quick actions of officers saw all the fish returned to the water with signs of life," he said.

Mr Robinson said it was a great result by the Fisheries Officers involved to be able to respond quickly to remove the fish from the nets and save unnecessary fish deaths.

He reminded fishers that mesh nets including trammel nets are prohibited and are non-discriminatory as they can catch protected wildlife such as platypus and cause them to drown.

For more information about fishing regulations please visit Fisheries or download the free Vic Fishing app for smartphones.

Anybody who sees or suspects illegal fishing activity is urged to call the 24-hour fisheries offence reporting line 13 FISH (13 3474).