http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/media/index.php?0000&mr=320

Magistrate fines lobster pot night raiders $15,000

Two Perth men have pleaded guilty 31 Jan and been fined a total of $15,000 for interfering with other people's crayfish pots and being in possession of 38 undersized rock lobsters.

Brett Ronald Blizard (32-years-old) from Bicton and John Paul Mueller (25-years-old) of East Fremantle were found in possession of rock lobsters taken from 15 pots off North Mole.

Department of Fisheries Metropolitan Region Compliance Manager Todd A'Vard said information from the public, who had called the FishWatch illegal fishing reports service, led to a stakeout at North Fremantle in which the men were seen pulling and resetting the rock lobster pots.

"The men were confronted by two Fisheries and Marine Officers (FMOs) and two Police officers, in the early hours of Saturday 17 December 2005, when the offenders were in possession of 46 rock lobsters, 38 of which were under legal size," Mr A'Vard said.

"None of the pots the two men pulled that morning were their own and they were both charged under Section 172 (b) of the Fish Resources Management Act, for which they were fined $2,500 each."

Mr A'Vard said the men, who appeared in Fremantle Court 31 Jan, were also charged under Section 46(b) for having 37 western and one southern rock lobsters in their possession that were undersized.

"The Western Rock Lobsters ranged from just under legal size to less than half the legal size," he said.

"This has not only led to a fine of $2,300 for each of the offenders, but also mandatory penalties under Section 222 of $2,700 each for the totally protected lobsters that were seized from the men.

Media Contact ASHLEY MALONE Department of Fisheries Media Unit Office 9203 0357 Mobile 0418 901 767