Offender charged with selling recreational bream
12 August 2026
A Deer Park woman who allegedly sold recreationally caught black bream from a shopping cart will appear in court after being apprehended by Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) Fisheries Officers.
Plain clothed Queenscliff Fisheries Officers apprehended a woman with a shopping trolley containing individual packages of black bream in St Albans on Wednesday 22 July.
The woman was caught offering recreationally caught black bream for sale at $20 per kilogram. Fisheries Officers will allege they observed two separate sales of bags of black bream to members of the public.
VFA Director of Community Engagement and Major Crime Ian Parks said this case highlights the importance of targeting offenders who break the law and undermine regulations put in place to protect Victoria’s world-class fisheries.
“Holders of commercial fishery access licences are the only people permitted to take fish for sale from Victorian waters. This activity threatens the sustainability of Victoria’s fisheries, the legitimacy of commercial fisheries, and poses public health risks to seafood consumers,” said Mr Parks
The apprehension came following an investigation into the woman’s activities after she was allegedly found in possession of 8 black bream in excess of the catch limit concealed in her pants on the Werribee River in June 2026.
In the previous detection, the woman, and man she was fishing with, had their fishing gear and all 28 bream seized on the spot.
The woman and man will be summonsed to appear in court on charges relating to exceeding the catch limit for bream and concealing fish taken in contravention of the Fisheries Act for the offending in June.
The woman will now also face charges relating to the unlawful sale of recreationally caught fish (and selling fish taken in contravention of the Fisheries Act) with maximum penalties exceeding $71,000 and 18 months imprisonment.
Members of the public who know anyone selling their recreational catch, or witness similar activity, are urged to report it by calling 13FISH (133474) anytime to provide details. Callers can remain anonymous.