SEVEN fishers have been fined a total of $3896 for being well over the possession limit for shellfish and having protected female mud crabs.
A Fisheries Queensland spokesperson said the fishers were approached by Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers on routine patrol at Orchard Beach, Redland Bay.
“Their large catch of shellfish included 1246 cockles and mud whelks, as well as six female mud crabs which are a protected, no-take species in Queensland,” the spokesperson said.
“The combined possession limit for bivalve molluscs and gastropods including pipis, mud whelks and cockles is 50 per person.”
The officers issued seven infringement notices for exceeding possession limits for shellfish and one for possessing female mud crabs.
The eight infringement notices totalled $3896.
Their catch was seized and returned to the water unharmed.
Fisheries Queensland appealed for illegal fishing activity to be reported to the 24-hour Fishwatch hotline on 1800 017 116.