The illegal activity took place on ten occasions between July 2022 and February 2023 in sanctuary areas of the Montebello Islands and Barrow Island Marine Park and the Ningaloo Marine Park. The offender also did not have a Recreational Boat Fishing licence.
In a statement read to the court, the offences came to light in February 2023 when Fisheries Officers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) apprehended the offender departing the Osprey Sanctuary Area in the Ningaloo Marine Park on a jet ski at high speed.
It was established the Exmouth man was found to have illegally fished over multiple days in the Osprey Sanctuary Area in the Ningaloo Marine Park taking a total haul of 25 fish, including three big eye tuna, 14 giant trevally, four Spanish mackerel, two longtail tuna, a tropical snapper, and a mackerel tuna.
The offender had also previously illegally taken six giant trevally over two days in July 2022 from the Southern and Northern Montebellos Sanctuary Areas in the Montebello Islands and Barrow Island Marine Park.
He also pleaded guilty to taking three mud crabs from the Willy Nilly Lagoon Sanctuary Area in the Montebello Islands and Barrow Island Marine Park in November 2022 and having fished using an instrument capable of piercing a crab and being in possession of parts of a raw crab.
DPIRD’s Regional Compliance Director North Stuart McDowall said Fisheries officers were focussed on putting a stop to illegal fishing in marine parks.
“The rules that apply in marine parks in Western Australia and the vitally important sanctuary zones they include need to be respected,” Mr McDowall said.
“DPIRD’s Fisheries Officers have the role of monitoring fishing activity in marine parks, in which there can be closed areas or protections in place from specific fishing activities.
“Marine protected areas are one of many tools alongside fisheries management to help ensure our aquatic resources remain sustainable.
Protected areas exist in both State and Commonwealth waters in WA and each area has specific management arrangements.”
Anyone who witnesses suspicious activity in a marine park, should call FishWatch on 1800 815 507.
