Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) compliance officers came across two of the men, a 34-year-old from Alkimos and 32-year-old from Yanchep, fishing for marron in the Moore River near Regans Ford on a Friday morning in May.
Marron fishing is only allowed between midday on 8 January to midday on 5 February.
Not only was it outside the marron season, but Joondalup court heard that two of the four nets set in the water were illegal for marron fishing, due to having chicken wire mesh bases.
The 34-year-old also had an illegal drop net in his vehicle, parked less than 50 metres away.
The men were using chicken pellets as bait and admitted to taking a marron, which they returned to the river when the compliance officers arrived.
In the other case, heard in Joondalup Court last Tuesday, a 59-year-old Meadow Springs man was found using two ‘Opera’ house traps in the Moore River, adjacent to the Regans Ford Bridge on a Saturday in April. He did not appear in court but entered an endorsed guilty plea.
The prosecutor told the court the man had participated in an interview, with the DPIRD compliance officers who apprehended him, and admitted that he had baited and set traps using chicken pellets to see if there were marron in the river, knew when marron season was and held a marron license and he knew the traps were illegal for marron fishing.
The 59-year-old did not attend court, but he had entered an endorsed plea for guilty.
DPIRD’s Director Regional Compliance for the Midwest, Mick Kelly said the use of illegal fishing gear was something that fisheries officers look out for throughout the year.
“Marron is a unique species in Western Australia and, as such, it is very important we maintain the experience of wild-stock marron fishing into the future for generations to come.
“We have limited fishing season and other rules, to keep the fishery sustainable, so it is important that fishers do not fish for marron in the closed season or use illegal gear.
"The use of fish traps is widely banned in WA, due to the potential impacts on aquatic life. Recreational fish traps are not allowed in WA, except in certain waters on private property or the use of modified ‘opera house’ traps to target feral Queensland redclaw in Lake Kununurra."
If you come across abandoned fish traps, please report them to FishWatch on 1800 815 50
