Six year ban and $8000 fine for Torquay fishing

19 September 2017

A Point Cook man has been fined $8,000 and banned from fishing for six years after being found guilty in the Geelong Magistrates Court of a number of fisheries offences.

Regional Supervising Fisheries Officer Paul Millar said the 34 year-old man was found guilty of breaching a court order prohibiting him from fishing on two separate occasions.

"He was also found guilty of taking more than twice the catch limit of greenlip abalone, providing a false name and address to Fisheries Officers, possessing rock lobster without the tail and carapace being attached, and finally he possessed abalone without the meat being retained in the shell.

Mr Millar said as well as the fine and the fishing ban, his boat and dive gear valued at over $30,000 was also forfeited.

When sentencing the Magistrate noted, "abalone is a scarce resource, which is why limits apply and because of your previous court hearing you were aware of the limits."

"[Your] court order was deliberately breached and [that is why] you gave Authorised Officers a false name when apprehended.  Your behaviour is going to have huge consequences for your family."

Learn more about abalone and rock lobster fishing rules at www.vic.gov.au/fishingguide or by downloading the free 'Vic Fishing' app for smartphones.

Quotes attributable to Mr Millar:

Abalone and rock lobster resources are of significant environmental and economic value to the state of Victoria. 

This result demonstrates offending such as this is treated seriously and will not be tolerated.

Recreational divers need to know their catch limits and all anglers are reminded that their catch is their own and cannot be shared amongst others also fishing or diving.

Furthermore abalone cannot be removed from their shells in, under or on Victorian waters and rock lobster must be landed whole and not dismembered.