Abalone trafficker fined but avoids jail time

A NSW man who became involved in an abalone poaching operation has received a nine-month suspended prison sentence and a $120,680 fine.

Tasmanian abalone export business is booming with sales to Asia increasing, abalone at Ralph's Tasmanian Seafood, in Electron...

A NSW man who became involved in an abalone poaching operation has received a nine-month suspended prison sentence and a $120,680 fine.

Daniel Kenneth Platt, 39, of Blacktown, pleaded guilty to trafficking in $15,000 worth of blacklip abalone from Marrawah in January this year.

Justice David Porter said ­illegal fishing was a serious matter and regulatory regimes needed to be in place to protect natural resources.

Justice Porter said a reference from Platt’s landlord stated that Platt’s “biggest downfall is his kindness and willingness to help others”.

“He seems not to have paid too much attention to the ­details [of the trip], at least initially,” Justice Porter said.

“He did not put any money in to the enterprise and [had] nothing to gain from it financially.”

All of the abalone were found in the car Platt hired.

Justice Porter said the $120,680 was a mandatory special penalty applicable to ­abalone poaching.