Lobster thieves given hefty fines
Submitted by C.P on Sat, 2015-07-04 13:16
There was an article in the local Mandurah paper this week with the above Title. Two seperate incidents of people getting caught pulling other peoples pots. If I was 20 years younger i might know how to copy & paste the story. Any way, the bastards got caught. Thank you fisheries.
Madmerv
Posts: 672
Date Joined: 24/01/15
link
http://www.pressreader.com/australia/pinjarra-murray-times/20150701/281702613369685/TextView
Sometimes when the water is quiet, you can hear the fish laughing at you !
C.P
Posts: 345
Date Joined: 04/01/12
Thanks
Thank You Madmerv. Different paper but same story.
axey45
Posts: 1758
Date Joined: 26/11/13
Wot link
Wot link
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
I love a story with a happy ending
Well done Fisheries, acting on a tip of from people sick of having there pots emptied for them by others.
If bastards want to go pinching other peoples pots/crays this can come their way.
Gee I love a story with a good ending.
Diesel80
Posts: 196
Date Joined: 29/08/13
could buy a lot of legitimate lobster for 5k
Good result.
Cheers,
D80
Member of the Offshore Angling Club of WA
www.beachfishingwa.org.au
hezzy
Posts: 1521
Date Joined: 27/11/09
story from the link above
story from the link above here below
hezzy
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http://fishwrecked.com/forum/lobster-thieves-given-hefty-fines#comment-639794
Jul 2015 Pinjarra Murray Times Lobster thieves given hefty fines
FINES have been handed out to three people who pulled lobster pots that were not theirs.
Raymond John Sergi (56) and Ruth Leanne Cawley (47), of Wannanup, were fined in Mandurah Magistrates Court for removing or interfering with lobster pots, using or pulling a pot without being the licence holder and removing or interfering with rock lobster pots.
The pair came to the attention of Fisheries and Marine Officers after complaints from the public.
The court heard the two were caught on surveillance pulling rock lobster pots offshore from the Dawesville Cut on Wednesday, October 22, last year.
There was more surveillance between late October and early December.
On December 9, Sergi and Cawley were seen pulling six lobster pots – including three that did not belong to them.
They each received a fine of $5150.80.
On Wednesday, June 24, Matthew Phillip Patterson (32) from Halls Head appeared in Mandurah Magistrates Court.
He was apprehended at a Dawesville boat ramp on November 28, 2014.
In an interview recorded later, Patterson admitted to pulling six pots, including two that were owned by a person or persons unknown to him. Patterson was fined $4650.80. Southern metropolitan region compliance manager Ryan Parker said the size of the fines against Sergi, Cawley and Patterson showed how serious the courts consider interfering with fishing gear offences.
“Fisheries and Marine officers in Mandurah consider this to be an extremely serious offence which impacts heavily on the fishers who are targeted by offenders,” he said.
“If we have the evidence, we summons all offenders to a date with a magistrate at court.
“We appreciate the help that members of the public provide to help us track down offenders and anyone with information is asked to call Fishwatch on 1800 815 507.”
■ Recreational fishers have been reminded the 2014 to 2015 rock lobster fishing season concluded on Tuesday, June 30.
The 2015 to 2016 season will open on October 15.
Information and rules are outlined in the recreational fishing for rock lobster guide, which is available online at www.fish.wa.gov.au and at departmental offices
OFW 11
evil flourishes when good men do nothing