Minister of Fisheries response today- Seized Boats Announcement ( Crayfish)
Good old Joe Francis on News Media today- proudly making an announcement that all boats seized doing the Fisheries blitz on Crayfisher "persons" doing the wrong thing will go to Auction later in the year.
He decribed the action of these people as "Bastardry" and "Un-Australian" .
Two more vessels were seized this week, bringing the total seized, since the start of the rock lobster season, to seven. Operation Bagana has mobilised large numbers of Fisheries and Marine Officers across the State to target rock lobster pot interference and related offences.
This vessel was seized by Fisheries officers at the Bent Street Ramp
A 66-year-old Safety Bay man had his catch and 5.6m fibreglass runabout seized by officers on Wednesday at the Bent Street Ramp in Safety Bay and faces further investigation for alleged gear interference with commercial rock lobster pots and other rock lobster related offences. Enquiries continue into a 68-year-old Cooloongup man and a 44-year-old Barragup man on the same matter.
Following the apprehension, Fisheries officers also executed search warrants at two related addresses and a further quantity of rock lobster was seized.
Also seized, for alleged rock lobster pot interference and other rock lobster related offences near Mindarie, was a 6.4m fibreglass cabin cruiser seized today from a 66-year-old man from Mindarie. Fisheries officers are also continuing investigations into four other men related to this matter.
This cabin cruiser was seized by Fisheries officers at Mindarie
South Metropolitan Compliance Manager John Breeden said Fisheries Officers will continue to conduct overt and covert operations across the State targeting people who don’t follow the rules.
“I’m hearing a lot of positive feedback from the community regarding our operations focussed on gear interference,” Mr Breeden said.
“The community can feel proud that by reporting all the information they have on fish thieves, our officers have been able to detect and apprehend them.
“As a result, we hope the fishing experience has been enjoyable for the large majority of law abiding fishers. It’s a unique fishery on the doorstep of a major city, where we can catch fantastic seafood to share at Christmas with friends and family, making those early morning trips worth it.”
Mr Breeden said the important message remained for those few that still choose to break the law.
“We are watching,” he said. “Don’t be the owner of the eighth boat seized. It’s just not worth it.
"Western Australia’s aquatic resources are highly valued in our community and everyone should respect the rights of others when fishing. Interference with another person’s fishing gear or catch, selling recreational fish or other similar offences can result in penalties of up to $400,000, imprisonment for four years and loss of boats, vehicles and equipment.”
Call FishWatch on 1800 815 507 to report any suspected illegal fishing activity. Information on rules and limits is available in the Recreational fishing for rock lobster guide, which can be viewed or downloaded at
My Dad taught me how to Fish-Thanks Dad.(RIP)
quadfisher
Posts: 1146
Date Joined: 28/09/10
Whats wrong with these 66 and
Whats wrong with these 66 and 68 year olds?
old school tossers that think if they dont rape and pillage , someone else will.
Puts the young fellas of today in a great light , against popular belief thats olders wise , and youngers dumb.
quadfisher
Michael Yoni
Posts: 601
Date Joined: 02/01/11
Does anyone know what they
Does anyone know what they actually do with the seized fish/crays/....etc. do they return them in the drink or something else.
quadfisher
Posts: 1146
Date Joined: 28/09/10
Crays and bingo?
We asked once, they said returned alive to water if possible , or if not I believe old peoples homes, homeless shelters etc.
Fisheries could prob do a bit more to make these things public knowledge.
I very much doubt this was done years ago in more remote locations, but hey thats just my cynical mind talking!
quadfisher
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
Dishonest old bastards started out as dishonest young bastards.
Nothing more, nothing less, please don't try to pigeonhole by age.
hezzy
Posts: 1519
Date Joined: 27/11/09
well said ranmar .that is
well said ranmar .that is exactly the facts of it , they have had this attitude to breaking the law all their life it did not just start at 60
plenty of dishonest peeps across all age groups
hezzy
OFW 11
evil flourishes when good men do nothing
Lance55
Posts: 126
Date Joined: 26/08/16
Absolutely
and this is from an old bastard.
Ageism is just as bad as racism.
eziliving
Posts: 865
Date Joined: 30/12/09
good stuff. now to seize all
good stuff. now to seize all the cars that are used by by people to rape the estuary, fresh water dams and rivers.
Get busy living, or get busy dying!
C.P
Posts: 345
Date Joined: 04/01/12
Hallelujah
A couple more pieces of shit caught interfering with our pots
Throw the the book at them
Agree with quadfisher that fisheries should do more to publicise the issue
Never the less - Well done and thank you to them
Bloody pot thieving realy gets me riled
uncle
Posts: 9349
Date Joined: 10/02/07
Guess we will be safer now
Is it us old farts doing drugs, alcohol,road kill,pool deaths etc don't tar us all with the same brush.old farts are probably just like your parents,
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
Ericl
Posts: 450
Date Joined: 02/05/11
Agree with Ranmar
Often some deogatory remarks about older people on the forum. I am 69 and most certainly dont interfere with anyone's property of any description, and I'm pretty sure that goes for most senior people. Everyone (if you're lucky) will get old and most will retain their values and good sense
Don't spend all your money on beer, boats, and fishing. Save some to spend foolishly
Moking
Posts: 1252
Date Joined: 30/05/12
Well said and agree...as I
Well said and agree...as I am getting old! And trying my hardest not to become an "Old Grumpy Bastard"
My Dad taught me how to Fish-Thanks Dad.(RIP)
Dale
Posts: 7930
Date Joined: 13/09/05
Me too Alan, but I don't think I'm winning at it.
"Just because you are a Character, Doesn't mean you have Character."
Mr Wolf
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
"get off my lawn you bloody kids"
* shakes stick* and put your hat on the right way and pull your pants up!
duncan61
Posts: 375
Date Joined: 21/11/14
disrespect
The disrespect for other peoples stuff.Good to see action being taken
just do it.
kknlk
Posts: 200
Date Joined: 30/12/08
The hoon legislation also
The hoon legislation also lets the cops to sell roadworthy cars. Maybe should follow some other states and destroy both cars and boats instead. I know that selling lets government recoup costs but it also allows the perpetrators to get their vehicles back even it may be in a roundabout way. Is it worth the money forgone to destroy instead?
BarraSlayer
Posts: 287
Date Joined: 14/04/14
Boat following close behind
Boat following close behind fisheries this morning at 930 ocean reef southern lead line.. i was wondering if they were in strife
Cheers
BarraSlayer
Swompa
Posts: 3783
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Theremin are dickheads at
There are dickheads at each end of the age bracket. Just look at Crayfish WA on Facebook to look at what the future will be...
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
Good to see
It was good to see the minister for fisheries on ch7 (I think it was) showing boats that have been seized and stating that they were going to be auctioned of later.
I would like to see the thieving bastards whos boat has been confiscated made to attend the auction to see just what happens (and the price) to his (not now) pride and joy.
Rubbing salt into the wound...you betcha
Stefan
Posts: 55
Date Joined: 01/11/16
I agree with the boats being
I agree with the boats being sold and money given to fisheries. Another option might be to raffle them off at $5 a ticket and give everyone a chance to get hold of a boat.
little johnny
Posts: 5329
Date Joined: 04/12/11
disagree
I think it's wrong. Heaps of people do 100 times worst offences. ( and get caught). They loose nothing. Don't get me wrong stealing someone's pots and Crays out of there pots is crap. 1 case sticks in my mind ( break in my parrents) they stole priceless rings and jewels( also cash) that where handed down from generations. They got the 2 people nothing returned. 2 weeks later 1 walked past my old boy and laughed at him. Community sevice nothing else??. Mmm something not right.
Rob H
Posts: 5745
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Have to agree John.Plus add,
Have to agree John.
Plus add, that I hope Fisheries dont get "over zealous" as law enforcement tend to when getting excited, and nab someone who is actually untangling a pot rope from their prop, or moving a chopped off pot out of a danger zone etc.
That is also "interfering with fishing gear" and Fisheries have a history both of "reinterpreting" rules to suit the moment and being unable to admit they got it wrong.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
uncle
Posts: 9349
Date Joined: 10/02/07
Nailed it
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
Curndog
Posts: 441
Date Joined: 21/11/16
Laws are bang on
i don't think the laws are too harsh at all I reckon people deserve to lose there boats for poaching and stealing people's pots. I do however think the laws for your everyday burglary, stealing, drug dealing etc are way too soft!!!
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
Agree with Curndog
I have experienced a similar experience as that of little johnny.
Daughter had hand bag pinched from shopping trolley at big store in Mandurah, cops did a good job of getting culprt (girl 16yrs old)but not bag which contained some jewellery, and money she had just collected from plastic bank machine.
Penalty handed down community order (she had failed to complete 3 of these previously).
Why can't state gov make some of her dole single parent payments be taken before she gets it and pay the victim for loss.
I was told the animal was a space cadet and had been since a very young age and couldn't even remember what day was what and had no idea she had taken the bag or what had happened to it's contents.
Jason P
Posts: 521
Date Joined: 16/02/13
Maybe next time keep a
Maybe next time keep a crayfish in the handbag, that may work.
DM306
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
Ha Ha Ha
Gota love your sense of humour
little johnny
Posts: 5329
Date Joined: 04/12/11
Interesting point from rob h
Been doing fair few swims lately( dives). Seen heaps off mint pots on Ocean floor out from rocko. Double baskets steel bases ( pine and jarrah). Ropes on them floating mid water. Massive waste . 2 to 3 hundred dollar pots . Would be great to float them and get them returned to owners . ( I'f id on pot). Can't and won't touch them not worth it. Hundreds of washed up floats on back and side of g island again this year. Seen few with wrong lengths of rope on them also( floats still attached) 65 feet deep .50 feet of rope ?? . Worms and coral with make short work of them . Just a shame.
Bryce Day
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 01/06/15
sounds as if your better off
sounds as if your better off breaking into someones house and stealing crays from freezer!
sea-kem
Posts: 14853
Date Joined: 30/11/09
I guess this type of thing
I guess this type of thing turns normaly honest people greedy so there has to be a somewhat decent deterrent. Thing with the older blokes is they should know better and be educating the younger generation. IMO I don't give a crap how old you are just face the music. Human nature is a funny thing, knowing there's a possibility of losing your boat but still going out and stealing crays, fuck em, throw the book book at them. The rest of us do the righty and tow the line.
Love the West!
uncle
Posts: 9349
Date Joined: 10/02/07
So of the 7 boats stolen
How many were old farts, lets say over 65?
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
godders
Posts: 116
Date Joined: 05/08/09
Great work fisheries. Keep up
Great work fisheries. Keep up the good effort.