DPI crackdown on taking invertebrates

Two women have been fined $2000 each, with a third woman incurring $500 in professional costs after collecting invertebrates in excess of the bag limits from Hastings Point rocky shore.

Following an Information Report received via the Fisherwatch 1800 number, Fisheries Officers apprehended three women (and one dependent) collecting invertebrates, including sea urchins and turban snails at Hastings Point (Tweed Shire).

Sea urchins have a possession limit of 10 per person per day. Between the four people, 204 urchins had been collected and put into shopping bags and buckets. Thus, 164 excess sea urchins had been collected by the group. There is a minimum size limit of 7.5cm for turban numbers. However, given the inconsistent weather patterns of late, it would pay to remain flexible in your approach. Tight lines.

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The unlawful catch was seized by Fisheries Officers and returned alive to the rocky shore. The three women were each issued with penalty infringement notices, which they later elected to have decided in court. Possession of prohibited size fish (including invertebrates) in NSW carries a maximum and level of expertise, all within a friendly and relaxed atmosphere at competitive rates. There fishingsydneytours.com.au, call 0481 120 600 or look up ‘Fishing Sydney Tours’ on Facebook. penalty of $22000 and/or six months imprisonment.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI)

Fisheries Officers from the Greater Metropolitan Mobile Fisheries Squad conducted ‘Operation Conus’ in Swansea between November 2022 and March 2023. The operation targeted the illegal collection of intertidal invertebrates in the Hunter Region over the busy holiday period.

You can also do your part to help protect the State’s fisheries resources by reporting illegal fishing activity to the NSW DPI Fishers Watch phoneline on 1800 043 536 or online at dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/ compliance. – NSW DPI

The operation reported more than 300 interactions with NSW recreational fishers, detected over 50 offences and resulted in more than 20 seizures, totalling over 450 invertebrates.

Offences included:

• Recreational fishers not paying the Recreational Fishing Fee (for more information on rec license fees visit dpi.nsw.gov.au and search for ‘fishing fee’)

• The possession of prohibited size fish/ invertebrates

• Possessing more than the possession limit of fish/ invertebrates.

During this operation, Fisheries Officers also prioritised educating recreational fishers on bag and size limits and other fishing rules in NSW. DPI Fisheries Officers provided advisory material including bag/size limit guides and plastic DPI measures for lobster, abalone, crabs and turban snails. Throughout the summer months, DPI Fisheries Officers noticed the uptake and use of these DPI measures down on the rock platform.

For up-to-date information on closures, bag and size limits and other info, you can download the NSW FishSmart app on the App Store or Google Play.