Port Stephens fishers face $12,600 sting in pocket for illegal lobster fishing

Two Port Stephens commercial fishers face fines and legal costs of more than $12,600 after being convicted for illegal lobster fishing, the Acting Director-General of NSW Fisheries, Paul O'Connor, said today.

Mr O'Connor said the men, a 33-year-old from Anna Bay and a 30-year-old from Fern Bay, were found guilty of the offences in Raymond Terrace Local Court. Both men plan to lodge appeals against their convictions.

"The offences occurred at Rocky Point off Port Stephens when NSW Fisheries officers saw the men pass 32 lobsters from their boat to three recreational fishers on another boat.

"All but two of the 32 lobsters were under the legal minimum size and should not have been kept.

"By passing on the lobsters to the recreational fishers, these two commercial fishers avoided having their catch counted as part of their yearly quota."

The NSW Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Ian Macdonald, said the commercial lobster fishery in NSW is a share-managed fishery in which each commercial fisher is allocated a yearly quota of lobsters.

"Courts clearly recognise illegal lobster fishing as a serious offence that threatens the sustainability of lobster stocks," Mr Macdonald said.

"Such behaviour is also unfair to the vast majority of commercial lobster fishers who abide by the rules."

In Raymond Terrace Local Court on Friday, the 33-year-old commercial fisher was fined $5,250 and ordered to pay $2,368 in court and legal costs, while his 30-year-old accomplice was fined $2,750 and faces $2,307 in court and legal costs.

The three recreational fishers who received the lobsters cooperated with NSW Fisheries officers. In an earlier court hearing, they received no penalties under Section 10 of the NSW Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act.

MEDIA INQUIRIES: Eric Aubert on 8437 4948 or 0419 185 375.