TWO teenage brothers have been ordered to pay about $11,000 for using 38 crab pots, exceeding the four pots per person limit in conservation park zones.
The brothers, aged 18 and 19, last week pleaded guilty in the Cleveland Magistrates Court to using excess crab pots in a Moreton Bay Marine Park conservation zone.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services principal ranger Alan Dyball said one brother had been fined $4000 for two counts of wilfully entering or using a marine park for a prohibited purpose.
The other had been fined $2500 for one count of the same offence.
Mr Dyball said the pair were also each ordered to pay $750 in court costs and $1510.50 in investigative costs.
QPWS and Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers had the pair had under surveillance for two days before they were caught.
Mr Dyball said the teenagers were intercepted on the water in the Pumicestone Passage-Goodwin Beach conservation park zone off Sandstone Point in December 2015.
“One brother was observed and recorded working 23 crab pots on the day of intercept while the other brother was observed and recorded working 15 crab pots,” Mr Dyball said.
“Under the Marine Parks (Moreton Bay) Zoning Plan 2008, fishers are limited to a maximum of four crab pots per person in conservation park zones.”
Mr Dyball said the brothers had admitted they had worked their crab pots in the conservation zone for at least two weeks prior to being caught.
“Thirty crab pots and 53 sand crabs were seized as part of the operation,” he said.
Mr Dyball said the pair had also been issued with infringement notices as the majority of crab pots were not compliant with identification requirements.
“Both brothers hold current Queensland commercial fisher licences and it is disappointing that these wilful offences have occurred,” he said.
“Illegal activity such as this steals from everyone and ultimately impacts on the catches of honest commercial and recreational fishers.”
Mr Dyball said the fines were a deterrent to anyone who thought they could break the rules designed to protect marine parks and fishing resources.
“Fishers must comply with the rules and vessels can be boarded at any time by QPWS officers or QBFP officers.”
Illegal fishing activity should be reported to Fishwatch on 1800 017 116. Other illegal activity in a marine park can be reported to 13 QGOV (13 74 68).