Two men from the NSW mid-north coast will have to shell out thousands of dollars for illegally trafficking dozens of expensive eastern rock lobsters.
The Harrington men, 56 and 25, were found guilty of several offences earlier this year after 40 of the crustaceans were discovered by authorities in their ute at a Newcastle fast-food outlet in February.
The fisherman and his deckhand had been under surveillance for some time before the bust, which led to the lobsters - which sell for a total of about $3800 - as well as the vehicle being seized.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries said on Wednesday the pair has been fined a hefty $42,000 in total by the Newcastle Local Court.
The 56-year-old has been fined $36,000 and been put on a two-year good behaviour bond, while his ute - a 2013 Ford Ranger valued at $15,000 - has been forfeited to the Crown.
The younger man has been ordered to pay $6000 and is on a 12-month good behaviour bond.
NSW Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair said the result was "fantastic", given illegal fishing threatens the hard work of honest fishers.
"This is a big win for our hard-working fisheries officers, who day in and day out do all they can to put a stop to illegal fishing," he said in a statement.
Australian Associated Press
