Crowdy Bay fishers in hot water for lobster offences

NSW Fisheries Director-General, Steve Dunn, today praised the efforts of Fisheries Officers in an operation targeting illegal fishing for eastern rock lobsters, on the mid North Coast.

Mr Dunn said the NSW Fisheries Investigations Unit and local staff swooped on two commercial fishers in Crowdy Bay Harbour on Tuesday, January 13, seizing 37 untagged eastern rock lobsters. These lobsters were returned to the water alive.

"This operation followed the receipt of information about illegal commercial lobster fishing," said Mr Dunn.

"All lobsters must be tagged by commercial fishers, as part of the quota management system, to avoid fraud.

"The lobster fishery in NSW is a share-management fishery that operates under a strict management plan. As part of the plan, each commercial fisher is allocated a yearly quota of lobsters, each of which must be tagged as soon as it is caught."

Mr Dunn said NSW Fisheries staff regularly patrol Crowdy Bay Harbour and other local waterways to help ensure everyone is obeying fishing rules and size limits.

"Anyone breaking fishing rules should know that NSW Fisheries staff are constantly on the lookout for illegal fishing activity and will continue to investigate and charge those who break the rules."

"Our fish are a community-owned resource and NSW Fisheries is working to protect this resource for future generations," Mr Dunn said.

Anyone concerned about illegal fishing activities should contact their local NSW Fisheries office or call the Fishers' Watch Line on 1800 043 536.