Post by LSDeep on Nov 30, 2005 8:42:56 GMT -5
By NIGEL HUNT
30nov05
HARSH new laws and penalties to combat fish thieves and abalone poachers have been proposed by the State Government.
Under the draft Fisheries Management Bill 2005, which was released yesterday, fines of $100,000 and a jail sentence of four years have been proposed for anyone caught trafficking abalone.
And, for the first time, recreational anglers will face heavy fines for possessing more than the prescribed quantity of fish at any time.
The measure, which carries a $5000 fine for a first offence, is aimed at combating fish thieves who catch their legal bag limit of fish, but accumulate them and sell them illegally.
All existing bag and boat limits remain unchanged under the proposed Bill.
Director of Fisheries Will Zacharin yesterday said the new offences recognised the fact that species such as abalone were under threat from organised poaching syndicates operating across southern Australia. "We have people who are now trafficking in these commodities and using them in organised crime syndicates," he said. "The Bill has created the indictable offence of trafficking so it can be referred to other crime agencies."
The new offences and penalties are in line with recently introduced measures in other states. Other proposed new offences in the Bill include:
COMMERCIAL fishing without a licence - $100,000 fine or four years' jail.
SELLING or purchasing fish without an authority - $50,000 fine or four years' jail.
TAKING or damaging a protected species - $10,000 a first offence.
INTRODUCTION or possession of an exotic species - $120,000 fine.
The proposed Bill introduces a demerit point system and establishment of the Fisheries Council as the peak body replacing seven existing management committees.
Copies are on the PIRSA website, www.pir.sa.gov.au/fishing
30nov05
HARSH new laws and penalties to combat fish thieves and abalone poachers have been proposed by the State Government.
Under the draft Fisheries Management Bill 2005, which was released yesterday, fines of $100,000 and a jail sentence of four years have been proposed for anyone caught trafficking abalone.
And, for the first time, recreational anglers will face heavy fines for possessing more than the prescribed quantity of fish at any time.
The measure, which carries a $5000 fine for a first offence, is aimed at combating fish thieves who catch their legal bag limit of fish, but accumulate them and sell them illegally.
All existing bag and boat limits remain unchanged under the proposed Bill.
Director of Fisheries Will Zacharin yesterday said the new offences recognised the fact that species such as abalone were under threat from organised poaching syndicates operating across southern Australia. "We have people who are now trafficking in these commodities and using them in organised crime syndicates," he said. "The Bill has created the indictable offence of trafficking so it can be referred to other crime agencies."
The new offences and penalties are in line with recently introduced measures in other states. Other proposed new offences in the Bill include:
COMMERCIAL fishing without a licence - $100,000 fine or four years' jail.
SELLING or purchasing fish without an authority - $50,000 fine or four years' jail.
TAKING or damaging a protected species - $10,000 a first offence.
INTRODUCTION or possession of an exotic species - $120,000 fine.
The proposed Bill introduces a demerit point system and establishment of the Fisheries Council as the peak body replacing seven existing management committees.
Copies are on the PIRSA website, www.pir.sa.gov.au/fishing