A BRISBANE fisher has been fined $17,000 for taking 146 under-sized blue swimmer crabs and hiding them in a concealed compartment on a boat.
Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) officers searched a Birkdale home after receiving a tip from Fishwatch. Redlands QBFP, assisted by the Gold Coast team, conducted surveillance and gathered intelligence on the fisher before seizing the boat, and auditing logbooks and sale dockets to establish a pattern of offending.
The defendant pleaded guilty to all charges in the Brisbane Magistrates Court and had their commercial fishing licence suspended.
You can report unlawful fishing in Queensland by calling the 24-hour Fishwatch hotline on 1800 017 116 (toll free within Queensland).
