Fish poachers face huge fine increases from this Friday

Long-awaited huge fine increases for anglers who ignore limits on SA’s iconic fish species come into force this week.

Father and daughter anglers Charles Male and Sasha Carr-Male, 9, from Marion, at West Beach boat ramp. Picture: Emma Brasier

Fish poachers face huge increases in fines for breaching size, bag and boat limits from this Friday.

The increases – in some cases of more than 500 per cent – are the first in more than 30 years and follow a review conducted in 2019.

Fisheries Minister David Basham at West Beach boat ramp, South Australia. Picture: Emma Brasier

Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister David Basham said the current fines were no longer a deterrent to illegal fishers.

“From Friday this week, rogue fishers who are caught doing the wrong thing will have a significant hit to the hip pocket,” he said.

“The recreational and commercial fishing sectors have consistently said current fines are too low and not an effective deterrent and this has been reiterated by my Recreational Fishing Advisory Council.

“An increase in fishing fines has been long overdue with some remaining unchanged for 30 years and price of seafood has risen well above these penalties.

“The Marshall Liberal Government takes our seafood sustainability seriously, and those who think the rules don’t apply to them have a rude shock coming their way.’’ Mr Basham said two recent cases had highlighted the inadequacy of previous fines.

In the first case, three individuals were each issued with a $100 expiation notice after being caught with 47 undersized blue swimmer crabs.

From Friday such offending will attract a fine of $625 each. In the second case, another fisher was caught with an undersized blue swimmer crab and two undersized King George whiting for which he was issued a $50 expiation. From Friday, this offending would attract a $375 fine.

Senior Fisheries Officer Troy Harris and Fisheries Officer Renee Tietzel at West Beach boat ramp, South Australia. Picture: Emma Brasier

“We know that most people do the right thing but these new fines will act as a deterrent for thinking about doing the wrong thing,’’ Mr Basham said.

Keen fisher Charles Male, of Marion, said he was “all for’’ increasing the fines and believed it would be a deterrent for anglers tempted to break the rules around size and bag limits. “It is a good idea; we have a big problem with people fishing on jetties taking undersized fish who don’t seem to care,’’ he said.

“They don’t understand the environmental impact it has when you take these types of fish because if they don’t breed, we don’t have fish to eat.’’

There are 128 individual offences with increased penalties for recreational and commercial fishers, including boat, bag, size and gear restrictions.

More information about South Australian fishing can be found at pir.sa.gov.au/fishing/recreational_fishing.

Information on fishers breaking rules can be reported to the 24-hour FISHWATCH on 1800 065 522 or on the SA Fishing App.