Aussie fisherman's illegal act 'costs him $12,000 and his boat'
Officers from the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) launched an investigation after reports of interference with fishing gear in Cairns.
When they visited the man's property, they allegedly uncovered more than just stolen catches — a sawfish rostrum was found along with commercial gill nets. The sawfish's long, tooth-lined snout is its most distinctive feature. It's also protected by law, making its removal illegal.
The man was slapped with a $12,000 fine and has lost his boat permanently. Authorities say it will be destroyed. "This man's poor decision to interfere with other people's crab pots has cost him $12,000 and his boat," QBFP Manager Greg Bowness said.
Why is interfering with fishing gear illegal?
Under Queensland law, touching or lifting another person's crab pot is illegal, even if the intention isn't to steal crabs. The Fisheries Act 1994 strictly prohibits interference with fishing gear that you don't own, to protect both the sustainability of marine life and the integrity of recreational and commercial fishing.
While it may seem harmless, this kind of interference undermines the efforts of legitimate fishers and can damage livelihoods. Recreational and commercial fishers alike rely on the fairness of the system, being able to trust that their equipment, and whatever it catches, will be left undisturbed.
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Sawfish are a protected species in Queensland waters due to their declining population. The discovery of a rostrum in the man's possession raised further questions about his fishing practices. Removing or possessing parts of these endangered animals is a serious offence and can attract additional penalties.
Gill nets are also tightly controlled in Queensland due to their potential to harm non-target species, including turtles, dugongs and dolphins.
This case serves as a reminder that fisheries officers have wide powers to investigate and prosecute breaches of fishing laws, and that the consequences for doing the wrong thing can be significant.
Earlier this month, a Victorian copped a $2,000 fine after authorities discovered he was allegedly using live carp as fishing bait, a serious breach of the law. The Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) said he was also allegedly deploying illegal setlines, another significant offence.
VFA said "given the risk of the man's fishing activity spreading carp to other Victorian waters", officers proceeded to inspect his property, where they located "a large seine net, and several setlines like those observed in Broken Creek".
As a result, the fisher received fines of more than $2,000 for possessing live noxious aquatic species, using carp as live bait, and possessing commercial fishing equipment without authorisation.
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