Three men from Australia have been charged with illegal abalone fishing on the New South Wales (NSW) South Coast, a report said.
Narooma Local Court has concluded an NSW Fisheries prosecution against Aragunnu, south of Bermagui. Heavy fines were imposed and a correction order was issued.
Also according to the report, after two South Coast men were discovered to have 262 shucked abalone, NSW Fisheries officers arrested them. They were located at Mimosa Rocks National Park‘s Aragunnu campsite.
They were sentenced on the 11th and 15th of July 2021. The court found one man guilty of the offense after he pleaded not guilty. The second man pleaded guilty.
The total penalties included 16 months imprisonment to be served through intensive correction orders and $12,250 in fines, additional penalties, and costs.
The report also mentioned three men from the ACT who pleaded guilty on 13 July 2021 to joint possession of 95 abalones, 87 of them of prohibited size, at Bega Local Court.
Officers from NSW Fisheries arrested the men at Baronda Headland, also known locally as Cowdroys, within Mimosa Rocks National Park near Tathra.
For charges related to the exceeding of the possession limit for abalone under circumstances of aggravation and the possession of prohibited-size fish in circumstances of aggravation, the three men were each fined $12,000.
The divers also lost their diving equipment which was confiscated by NSW Fisheries and forfeited, the report added.
Maximum penalties for abalone theft are fines up to $88,000 and imprisonment for abalone trafficking up to 10 years.
Information leading to the conviction of abalone thefts can earn you up to $1000. Information can be reported to Fishers Watch on 1800 043 536, or via this online form.
