A commercial fisherman has been ordered to pay more than $20,600 by a Geraldton magistrate, for using one more pot than he was entitled to.

27-year-old Jesse Vivian Rowland of Geraldton yesterday pleaded guilty to breaching the West Coast Rock Lobster Management Plan between 15 November 2004 and 15 March 2005, when he was master of a vessel named Infinity.

The Geraldton Court was told the accused had fished for western rock lobster during those four months, using 92 pots instead of the 91 he was permitted to use.

Rowland was given a fine of $4,000 for the breach and ordered to pay court costs of $1,470, plus a mandatory additional penalty of $15,150 for the rock lobster that were subject to the offence.

Mid West Compliance Manager Dave Griffiths said the magistrate, when handing down his decision, had noted that it was the responsibility of a fishing boat master to ensure the correct number of pots was being operated.

“In addition to the monetary penalty, the magistrate also ordered that the pot entitlement of the licence being fished at the time of the offence be permanently reduced by one unit,” Mr Griffiths said.

“The rock lobster pot was also forfeited.”

Mr Griffiths said pot quotas were one of the important management tools used to keep fishing at sustainable levels within Western Australia’s rock lobster fishery.

“The hefty fine and penalties, plus the loss of a pot from a licence, should serve as a strong reminder to all commercial fishers to operate in accordance with the relevant legislation and be familiar with any applicable restrictions before they fish,” he said.

Department of Fisheries’ monitoring of fishing activity and its enforcement of the rules that apply within various fisheries, throughout the State, is taken very seriously and various strategies are used to uncover illegal operations – including a 24 hour phone service, through which the public can provide information on suspected illegal fishing.

Anyone with information regarding possible over potting or any other suspicious fishing activity by commercial or recreational fishers is urged to call Fishwatch on 1800 815 507, or contact their local Department of Fisheries office.