By BRIDGET COOK
FISHERIES Victoria reeled in five Casey men flouting the law over the long weekend, allegedly taking more than 420 abalone from reefs in the Mornington Peninsula.
Officers were out in force over the Labour Day long weekend, and issued 20 infringement notices including to a number of Casey men.
Three men from Endeavour Hills, aged 30, 23 and 17, were apprehended after allegedly taking 222 abalone from reefs off Mornington, 98 of which were undersized.
All three men were arrested and interviewed at the Mornington police station and will be charged on summons with offences relating to the catching undersized abalone and a commercial quantity of the fish above the limit.
Officers alleged that the men left two bags containing the abalone in bushes to be picked up at a later time.
In a separate incident, two men, a 29-year-old from Lynbrook and a 25-year-old from Cranbourne, were arrested by fisheries officers after allegedly taking 200 abalone, including 148 undersized, and one undersized snapper from reefs off Mount Eliza.
The daily bag limit for abalone is five, of which no more than two can be greenlip.
The minimum size for abalone caught from Port Phillip Bay is 10cm.
In both instances, Mornington Peninsula Senior Fisheries Officer Rod Barber seized all the diving equipment and the vehicles used.
“The five men each face harsh penalties for abalone taken in excess of the catch limit and undersized,” he said.
Mr Barber said despite heavy penalties, a minority of anglers continued to flout restrictions.
“Illegal fishers continue to run the gauntlet, risking jail sentences, forfeiture of expensive cars, boats and fishing equipment, very heavy fines and penalties,” he said.
“While the vast majority of fishers do the right thing, a small minority continue to flout restrictions, risking harsh fines and threatening the sustainability of our fisheries for future generations.
“The ramifications once caught are enormous for offenders and their families.
“Courts are imposing heavy fines and significant forfeitures and jail sentences to send clear messages that this rampant disregard for Victoria’s valuable and important fisheries resources will not be tolerated.”
Members of the public observing suspicious or illegal fishing activities can report it to 133 474.
