Portland Breakwater alleged illegal abalone take
10 May 2016
A phone call to the 13 FISH illegal reporting hotline recently resulted in the apprehension of three persons involved in the alleged illegal take of abalone at Portland.
Fisheries Victoria Officer Cameron McCallum said a concerned member of the public provided accurate information to the 13 FISH reporting line about the illegal harvesting of abalone at The Breakwater at Portland on Saturday night (June 20).
Mr McCallum said Portland Fisheries Officers were able to respond and make an intercept with the assistance of Victoria Police.
The alleged offenders, a 61 year old male, a 41 year old female and a 16 year old male from Warracknabeal were detected with 52 abalone in total and may face infringements totalling up to $8,415.
Mr McCallum said a range of offences were detected. These included; exceeding the catch limit, taking undersize, taking molluscs from the intertidal zone, not using a measuring device, shucking abalone and taking abalone between sunset and sunrise.
Anyone who sees or suspects illegal fishing activity is urged to call the 24 hour reporting line 13
FISH (13 3474).