WA fisherman slammed with $7800+ fine
A suburban Perth court has ordered a Bunbury man to pay fines and penalties totalling $7,854.20, after he was found to be in possession of 181 out of season marron last year.
The man’s vehicle was stopped and searched by Fisheries and Marine officers in October 2008, during a non-possession period. The search occurred at Wungong Dam, where no fishing is allowed at any time. Fisheries and Marine Officers found 181 marron, of which 94 were berried females (with eggs).
Rockingham-based Supervising Fisheries and Marine officer, Darren Schofield, said Fisheries and Marine officers would be on the lookout for any breaches of fisheries rules.
“One of the important sustainability rules in WA’s wild marron fishery is that female marron carrying eggs or young must be carefully and quickly returned to the water, as they are protected at all times (including the marron season),” he said.
“They are carrying the future marron stocks for the fishery and must be protected.”
The 2010 season for wild marron fishing, in areas where it is permitted, runs from midday on Friday, January 8, 2010, to midday on Friday, February 5, 2010. Visit www.fish.wa.gov.au for more information.
PIC: Marine officers at Wungong Dam record details of last year’s marron haul.