Two fishos fined thousands for crossing Great Barrier Reef green zones

Two experienced fishermen have fronted court for separate illegal acts on the Great Barrier Reef, with one of the men branded a ‘recidivist, repeat offender’.

Two experienced fishermen were slapped with huge fines for crossing into Great Barrier Reef green zones for just a few minutes.

Their small boats were in a protected area for mere minutes, but two fishermen have copped hefty fines for their separate illegal acts.

Paul Matthias Hack, 56, and Bruce David O’Sullivan, 65, are both experienced commercial fishermen who are expected to understand regulations protecting the Great Barrier Reef.

Despite this, both had previous charges for entering green zones of a world heritage site that UNESCO said in 2022 should be classed as “in danger”.

Green zones are no-take areas where fishing, crabbing or trawling is strictly banned.

The areas make up just 33% of the GBR Marine Park.

While private boats are allowed to cross through green zones, commercial fishing dories (auxiliary boats) must be attached to the major vessel to enter.

Mackay Magistrates court heard Hack had four similar charges for entering green zones in a dory, including one where he fished the protected area for three hours.

Commonwealth prosecutor Sam Lanskey said Hack had been told to appear, but did not show up to his sentencing and had not contacted the court.

“He has, in a sense, recklessly cut through to the green zone on the way back to the primary vessel (with a storm coming)”, Mr Lanskey said.

“He should have gone around the boundary.”

The offence was reported by the master of the fishing vessel Diamond Rain, who the court heard had previously fired Hack for entering green zones.

Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan remarked Hack was a “recidivist … repeat offender in this regard” and needed personal deterrence.

“It is very important that green zones and the Great Barrier Reef are respected as it is ecologically fragile,” Ms Hartigan said.

“Hence the legislation that’s in place to protect it.

“Really all that can be said in Mr Hack’s favour (is) that he was in the green zone for a fleeting amount of time.”

Hack was fined $5000 and ordered to pay $107.95 in court costs.

O’Sullivan also had one previous charge of taking a dory into a non-fishing area, but was not considered by Ms Hartigan a recidivist offender.

Also unlike Hack, O’Sullivan appeared in court and plead guilty.

He said “it was never intentional to drop them in the drink”, where the dory was similarly in the green zone for about five minutes.

The court heard he was the sole provider for his partner and one of his children, and beset by debt and business troubles.

Ms Hartigan said she would give a lesser penalty in light of O’Sullivan’s guilty plea, debt and 30-year career of otherwise good behaviour.

O’Sullivan was fined $1500, which was referred to SPER, and ordered to pay $107.95 in court costs.