Buyer beware – illegal abalone dealer gets fined, loses car and risks imprisonment
21 Mar 2017
A western Sydney man was lucky not to go to prison dealing illegally in abalone after being convicted in Bankstown Local Court last month.
Department of Primary Industries’ (DPI) Director of Fisheries Compliance, Patrick Tully, said DPI’s Statewide Operations & Investigation Group, assisted by NSW Police, charged the man in August last year following a covert operation.
“A total of 575 Blacklip Abalone were seized along with the man’s vehicle after authorities tracked the man illegally acquiring the abalone from the south coast of NSW,” Mr Tully said.
The Riverwood man was convicted for trafficking in an indictable species of fish (abalone) and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, which was suspended. The magistrate then imposed an additional monetary penalty of $5,000, reflective of some of the potential value of the product.
The man was also found guilty of possessing166 prohibited size abalone in circumstances of aggravation. He was convicted and fined $3,000 for this offence and directed to enter into a good behaviour bond for a period of 3 years, as an alternative to imprisonment.
“The penalties didn’t stop there”, Mr Tully said.
“The Court ordered that the man’s vehicle, in which the abalone was found, be forfeited to the State.
“The Court then ordered the man pay the Department’s costs of $2,070 for towing and storing the vehicle while the matter was determined.”
The man was also ordered to pay the Department’s professional legal costs of $5,280.
“This should send a clear message to those who choose to trade illegally in the State’s precious fisheries resources. We will stop you in your tracks,” Mr Tully said.
“You can lose your vehicle, or boat, on the spot. You can get a criminal conviction, receive significant fines, have costs awarded against you and risk going to jail all on a first offence,” he said.
Report illegal fishing activity
Anyone with information on suspected illegal fishing activity is urged to call the Fishers Watch phone line on 1800 043 536. You can also report illegal fishing activity online.
Media contact: Lyndall Hilder (02) 6391 3686 or 0409 383 423
