Lorne locals dob in group of 11 allegedly illegal fishers

Fisheries are lauding a local coastal community after locals dobbed in a group of anglers who were shellfishly flouting the law.

Abalone seized by fisheries from a group of illegal anglers.

Illegal anglers have been caught by authorities after being dobbed in by Lorne residents.

Fisheries officers have commended the community after information they provided led to the apprehension of 11 illegal fishers from two separate groups.

Victorian Fisheries Authority chief executive Travis Dowling said the groups were allegedly caught red handed with a host of illegally-caught sea creatures last week.

“Our Apollo Bay-based officers received reports of multiple groups of fishers allegedly collecting several species of shellfish, molluscs and crabs from the intertidal zone and during the abalone closed season for central Victorian waters,” Mr Dowling said.

“Officers first encountered a group of seven people in possession of more than 100 abalone, including 24 that were undersized, 92 red shore crabs and approximately 15l of mixed molluscs, they had also allegedly used an incorrect tool to remove the abalone.

“The second group, comprising of four people, was intercepted with 193 red shore crabs (bag limit 30 per person), 24 abalone (14 undersized) and half a litre of molluscs.

“Individuals from both groups will face fines of up to $2174 each for offences including taking abalone during the closed season, exceeding the abalone bag limit, taking molluscs from the intertidal zone, and exceeding the bag limit for red shore crabs.”

Mr Dowling thanked the “eagle-eyed residents” who had dobbed the group in.

Cathedral Rocks, where the fishers were caught, is about 5km north of Lorne and is within the Central Victorian Waters abalone zone, which is open on most weekends and public holidays from November 16 to April 30 every year.

On those nominated days it is legal to catch abalone larger than 11cm.

Apollo Bay-based supervising fisheries officer Scott Hanger encouraged people to report any fishy behaviour to authorities.

“We’re approaching peak season in areas like Lorne with snapper being caught off the rocks, Central Victorian abalone waters opening soon, and rock lobster season beginning on November 16, so the more eyes we have out there the better,” Mr Hanger said.

“We encourage anyone who sees or suspects illegal fishing to ring 13 FISH to speak directly to a Fisheries Officer. Callers can remain anonymous.”

For more information on the upcoming abalone season in Central Victorian waters, rock lobster season, intertidal zone rules, and size and bag limits for all species, fishers can download the FREE VicFishing app or head to www.vfa.vic.gov.au/fishingguide

Originally published as Lorne locals dob in group of 11 allegedly illegal fishers