Two men fined $15K each over illegal rock lobster haul off Shoalwater

Two men have been fined $15,000 each over an illegal haul of rock lobsters off Shoalwater.

The case was heard in the Rockingham Magistrates Court recently and provides a strong warning against breaching WA's rock lobster fishing rules.

The offence happened just before Christmas last year when a 40-year-old Wagin man was spotted unloading a large white sack off a boat near Shoalwater Bay. 

The court heard the man illegally brought ashore 52 live western rock lobsters and one lobster tail - which is 45 lobsters over the limit.

The daily bag limit is eight.

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) compliance officers stopped a vehicle which had picked up the man from the beach, in which they located the bag and the 53 rock lobsters.

None of the lobsters had been tail clipped or tail punched as required.

After checking and recording the evidence, the officers released the lobsters back into the ocean.

A second team of DPIRD compliance officers inspected the boat involved later that morning.

The master of the boat, a 44-year-old Waikiki man, with two other passengers aboard, had a further 24 live rock lobsters that had all been tail-clipped.

The court heard the master had also admitted to making the arrangements to have the Wagin man picked up from the beach. 

Neither of the men appeared in court, but the master of the boat entered an endorsed plea of guilty. 

DPIRD’s Director Regional Compliance Metro Todd A’Vard said where a boat is used in connection with the recreational take of rock lobster, it is a requirement to tail clip or tail punch the kept rock lobsters within five minutes of bringing them onto the boat.

“Tail clipping or punching is important in identifying the lobsters were caught recreationally,” Mr A’Vard said. 

“This case is also a reminder that if a person commits a fishing offence, the master of a boat involved in the offence can also be charged with committing the same offence.”

If you see something unusual that you think may be illegal fishing activity, please call and report your concerns to FishWatch 1800 815 507, or lodge information about what you’ve seen in the online form on Crime Stoppers.