Hefty fines for local fisherman after catching pink snappers out of season

Two fisherman from Waikiki and Armadale have been slapped with hefty fines after catching pink snapper during the season closure.

The 29-year-old Waikiki man and 32-year-old Armadale man were recently found guilty of jointly taking eight large pink snapper from Warnbro Sound in October last year during the closure.

One man was fined $2984 and the other $2734.

DPIRD Director Regional Compliance Metro Todd A’Vard said with increased fishing and environmental pressures it was vital to manage Western Australia’s highly valued aquatic resources sustainably to ensure there were fish for the future.  

“Fisheries officers make regular patrols of metropolitan fishing locations and closed waters to guard against illegal fishing,” Mr A’Vard said. 

“In addition to the pink snapper spawning closure in Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds, all demersal scalefish species are also subject to a closure period in the West Coast Bioregion from 5 October to 15 December.” 

The pink snapper fishing closure is from August 1 to January 31 in both the Cockburn and Warnbro sounds.

Anyone who witnesses any suspicious freshwater or marine fishing activity, is urged to call FishWatch on 1800 815 507 or report the matter via the online form on Crimestoppers.