Mid West Fisheries Officers Seize Fish After House Search 1

Media Release
20 April 2009 16/2009


Mid West Fisheries officers seize fish after house search

A search of a Kalbarri house last Wednesday (15 April 2009) has led to the seizure of more
than 180 kilograms of filleted fish believed to be from Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel.

Department of Fisheries Mid West Regional Manager Greg Finlay said recreational catches
of mackerel had been good in Kalbarri over the holiday period and most fishers had been
adhering to size and bag limits, but there had been fines issued.

"Due to the high catch of mackerel and the large number of recreational fishers holidaying
in the area, a higher level of fisheries presence was undertaken," Mr Finlay said. Patrols at
Kalbarri in the past week have issued a number of infringements mainly for offences
where fishers had been found to be taking undersize rock lobsters or failing to tail clip them.

"However, on 15 April, as a result of information received from the community and covert
surveillance, Fisheries and Marine Officers from Geraldton executed a search warrant at a
Kalbarri house and found a large quantity of processed fish in storage.

"181 kilograms of fillets in excess of the legal possession limit have been seized and we
expect to lay charges after the current investigation is completed."

The maximum quantity of finfish either whole or in pieces that you may have in your
possession in Western Australia is:
20 kg of fillets of fish; or
10 kg of fillets of fish and one day's bag limit of whole fish or fish trunks; or
two days' bag limit of whole fish or fish trunks.

Special possession rules apply to the Abrolhos Islands Fish Habitat Protection Area and
there are also some specific possession limits for certain species of fish.

Mr Finlay said the maximum penalty that could apply to a recreational fisher found guilty of
breaching the possession limit laws under the Fish Resources Management Act was $5,000
for a first offence.

"If a person is convicted they also have to pay a mandatory penalty, which is equal to 10
times the prescribed value of fish involved," he said. "In this case that could lead to a
potential penalty of $10,860."

More details of all the rules that apply in the Mid West and other WA fisheries are available
on the Department of Fisheries website at www.fish.wa.gov.au.

Select the Recreational Fishing section on the home page menu, then click on the area of
the map relevant to you to find the Recreational Fishing Guide for your region.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Ashley Malone Ph: 9203 0357
Principal Media Liaison Officer Mobile: 0418 901 767



Report all suspected illegal fishing activity to FISHWATCH 1800 815 507