Ocean Sentry
(From dailyexaminer.com.au) ILLEGAL fishermen in the Clarence should be warned the NSW Government is introducing tough new penalties for serious illegal fishing crimes.
NSW Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald has announced the Government will increase penalties for repeat offenders, doubling the penalty for fish thieves who commit the same offence twice.
“Under the new laws, illegal fishers can for the first time be made to pay additional fines of up to 10 times the value of the illegal catch for high-value species,” he said.
“Under the new laws, the Government will introduce indictable offences for the offence of trafficking in priority species such as abalone, lobster and shark fin. Poachers could face a maximum penalty of up to $500,000 and 10 years in jail. Currently the maximum fine is $11,000 and three months jail.”
The patrol boats will be used to crack down on illegal fishing which is depleting stock levels.
The boats will add to a fleet of more than 70 already patrolling the State’s waterways.
Minister Ian Macdonald said in the past 12 months alone, more than 2000 infringement notices had been issued, and more than 450 prosecutions launched for offences under Fisheries legislation.
