Commercial fisher fined $4,000 for shark mistreatment, illegal catch and inaccurate reporting
This is a media release from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA).
A commercial fisher pleaded guilty at Bairnsdale Magistrates Court on Wednesday 15 January 2025 to two counts of mistreating bycatch (sharks on both occasions), landing an illegal catch and failing to keep an accurate logbook.
Bycatch involves the incidental catch of a species other than what is being targeted. Rules exist to govern how bycatch is to be treated and recorded.
The matters arose from a series of incidents in May and June 2023 involving a commercial fishing vessel based at Lakes Entrance, Victoria.
Following an investigation by AFMA, which included reviewing footage captured by the vessel’s electronic monitoring system, the master of the vessel was charged with four offences against the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth).
The bycatch mistreatment charges arose from incidents on 15 May 2023 and 8 June 2023. On the first occasion, the accused stabbed an angel shark with a knife several times until it stopped moving before discarding it overboard. On the second occasion, he forced open the mouth of a Port Jackson shark with a device before returning it to the sea.
The inaccurate reporting matter resulted from an electronic logbook submitted to AFMA on 19 May 2023. The logbook did not contain records of five sharks that had been caught on the vessel and discarded into the sea.
The illegal catch relates to an incident on 20 May 2023, when a quantity of Australian salmon (Arripis trutta) was unloaded from the vessel. The catch was taken from waters adjacent to Victoria and Tasmania, where Australian salmon is a no-take species under the relevant licence.
The master of the vessel pleaded guilty to the charges. He was convicted and ordered to pay a total of $4,000 in fines plus court costs.
Quotes attributable to AFMA General Manager, Fisheries Operations, Mr Justin Bathurst:
“Mistreatment of marine animals within the commercial fishing industry will not be tolerated.
“Commonwealth fisheries are subject to strict rules to ensure their sustainability and to protect our marine environment. AFMA will prosecute operators who break those rules, and the penalties can be significant.”
Illegal fishing activity in Australian waters can be reported to Australian authorities by contacting CRIMFISH on 1800 274 634 or intelligence@afma.gov.au.
For more information:
Media: media@afma.gov.au or 0437 869 860
www.afma.gov.au