ANYBODY thinking of selling fish or fishing illegally should think again.
Fisheries Victoria enforcement officers are on the job, with spectacular success.
Colac angler Doug Lucas reported recently that fishing had slowed in the Hopkins River at Warrnambool, Victoria.
The Hopkins is one of the state's prime estuary waters and has been a prolific producer of bream and estuary perch for as long as anyone can remember.
Fish come and go when it comes to feeding, but sometimes there are other reasons why the fish aren't biting.
It turned out illegal netters may have played a part in the decline of fishing in the river.
Late last month Fisheries Victoria were alerted to an illegal net in the Hopkins by a couple of anglers after their boat engine's propeller became tangled in it.
When police and fisheries staff investigated, they discovered more than 300 bream and estuary perch caught in four gill nets, 177 metres long.
Despite the efforts of both police and fisheries staff, only about 40 fish were released alive.
More than 245 fish - 195 bream up to 1.4kg and 50 estuary perch - died.
The Warrnambool Standard reported the incident as the "worst poaching incident in the city's history".
The catch of black bream was such that it may adversely affect the breeding cycle of the local population.
Fisheries Victoria acting director of field services Peter Courtney said the breeding season for bream ran from August to January and the removal of so many brood stock at one time could reduce future stocks.
"Bream don't successfully recruit every year and most of the fish caught in the illegal nets would have been part of the breeding population," Mr Courtney said.
"They are a slow-growing fish that take nine years to reach the minimum legal length for anglers and some of the fish that died were undersized."
The Hopkins River is one of the waterways included in the State Government's premier river program under two major regional strategies, Go Fishing Victoria and Growing Provincial Victoria.
More than $200,000 has already been allocated for projects like fishing platforms and access tracks.
Last Tuesday, two days after the Warrnambool incident, 23 Fisheries officers backed by Victoria police executed three search warrants and inspected more than eight premises on the Bellarine Peninsula and in Melbourne.
As a result, a 38-year old Queenscliff man faces a number of charges after allegedly being caught selling fish on the black market.
He was arrested at Queenscliff and taken to Geelong police station for interview.
The man has been charged with fisheries-related offences, including the unlicensed taking of fish for sale and exceeding catch limits.
He was bailed to appear in the Geelong Magistrates Court later this year.
Two other men, from Leopold and Point Lonsdale, are also facing charges.
It will be alleged they illegally sold fish, in particular King George whiting and calamari squid.
Fisheries also seized freezers, two boats and a car.
The searches and inspections were the culmination of a 10-month investigation, code named MINT, into what will be alleged to be a systematic and organised operation to take fish for illegal sale.
The Department of Primary Industries will allege the fish seized were destined for sale on the Victorian domestic market.
DPI's chief investigator, Murray Donaldson, said the owners or operators of some premises may also face charges.
"Several retail outlets, including restaurants, are suspected of involvement in the black market operations," Mr Donaldson said.
Penalties for illegal fishing are heavy.
In September, a man from Jacana was given a six-month jail sentence (suspended for two years) and fined $2000 after being caught with nearly 4000 Bass yabbies from Western Port.
The man pleaded guilty to six charges, including taking fish for sale, using commercial fishing equipment and exceeding the catch limit. In addition to his jail sentence and fine, the Magistrate ordered his boat and contents, worth about $8000, to be forfeited.
Members of the public who see or suspect illegal fishing activity should call the 24-hour offence reporting line, 13 FISH (13 3474).
- Steve Cooper can be heard on the Casting Off program on Radio Sport927 between 4.30am and 6.30am on Saturdays.
