Cross border operation catches two men with illegal fishing gear

A 58-year-old man from Boundary Bend and a 53-year-old man from Narrung will face court after allegedly being observed using illegal fishing nets at Boundary Bend on the Murray River between Swan Hill and Mildura.

Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Director Compliance Operations Paul O’Connor said the men were apprehended at 10 pm on Friday 18 February in a cross-border operation involving eight fisheries officers from NSW and Victorian jurisdictions.

He said the weeklong surveillance operation had utilised night vision equipment.

“Fisheries officers seized a 5.5 metre custom made boat with trailer, a 25 horse-power outboard motor, and three drum nets,” Mr O’Connor said.

“As a result of this operation the men will face charges in Victorian and NSW jurisdictions with the NSW charges likely to include unlawful use of drum nets and failure to comply with the directions from a fisheries officer.”  

Using a drum net carries a maximum penalty of $22,000 and/or six months jail in NSW.

Further investigations may be conducted into possible additional breaches of Fisheries and other legislation.

Mr O’Connor said the operation highlighted the effectiveness of cross-border surveillance operations.

“Fisheries officers are constantly on the look-out for illegal fishing activity in an effort to protect the valuable fisheries resource for future generations,” he said.

Anyone with information on illegal fishing activity is urged to contact their NSW Fisheries office or the Fishers Watch phone line on 1800 043 536, or in Victorian waters contact the Victorian offence reporting line on 13 FISH (133474), which is a 24-hour service.

MEDIA CONTACT: DPI MANAGER, FISHERIES COMPLIANCE GLENN TRITTON