A QUINNS Rocks man who did not enter a plea or appear in Joondalup Court on July 7 has been ordered to pay $7700 in fines and costs after he was found with more than the daily bag limit of western rock lobsters, including some which had not had their tails clipped.
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) officers inspected the 36-year-old man’s vessel at Mindarie marina on December 21 last year and found eight legal tail clipped western rock lobsters in a blue esky on board.
DPIRD officers also found a ninth rock lobster concealed under the deck at the stern of the vessel which was not tail clipped as required for recreationally caught lobsters.
Despite the man’s assurance there weren’t any other rock lobsters on board, an additional five unclipped western rock lobster were located inside a black wetsuit tucked away at the bow of the vessel.
A further two lobsters, which also were not clipped, were found concealed in the vessel’s stern.
In total, the offender had twice the daily bag limit of western rock lobsters.
DPIRD officers seized the eight non-tail clipped rock lobsters found alive and released them back into the water at the Mindarie marina jetty.
Meanwhile, a 68-year-old Westminster man has lost his recreational fishing licence for two years and fined $3283 for abalone fishing offences and abusing compliance officers on February 18 this year.
The man, who also did not appear in court on July 7 or enter a plea, was observed coming ashore with a catch bag with 19 abalone – four more than the daily bag limit of 15.
DPIRD officers were also subject to verbal abuse and threats when the offender was asked to provide his name and address.
The court heard that officers should be able to carry out their duties without worrying about whether their instructions would be followed or if they would be abused.
