Boat crushed after seized from black market fisherman

Fisheries Minister Mark Furner said the crushing sent a stern warning to all fishers about the consequences of committing serious fishing offences.

“If fishers are thinking about breaking the rules, they had better be ready to risk losing their fishing boat,” Mr Furner said.

Mr Furner said ublicensed selling of fisheries resources undermined the legitimate commercial fishing industry and threatened Queensland’s reputation as a producer of high-quality seafood.

He said reforms currently before parliament were aimed at fishers who illegally sold seafood on the blackmarket, including stronger compliance powers for fisheries officers and higher penalties for offenders.

“The community has been calling for change to fisheries legislation for many years and these proposed reforms will bring Queensland fisheries management in line with world’s best practice," Mr Furner said.

“We want to leave a legacy of a sustainable fishery for our children and grandchildren and protect Queensland jobs that rely on the industry.”

The boat, which was forfeited to the state government last year, was destroyed at Eagle Farm recycling centre this week.

A Queensland Fisheries spokesperson said the boat was crushed as it had been modified and was not suitable for sale.

The motors were removed and auctioned, with proceeds going back into supporting fisheries management, compliance and monitoring.

The spokesperson said Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers had intercepted the Kuraby-based angler delivering almost 200 redclaw to a Sunnybank restaurant in March last year.

During the investigation, 82 freshwater traps, more than 133 kilograms of redclaw, a 4.5 metre catamaran and a kayak were also seized at Somerset Dam and Brisbane.

The recreational fisher, who was not a first-time offender, pleaded guilty to five charges, including selling fisheries without a licence and using 78 excess and unmarked freshwater traps.

He was fined $7600 and had his vessel forfeited to the state.

A restaurant manager, who said he bought the redclaw for a staff party and didn’t intend to sell it, was fined $1000 after pleading guilty to one count of selling seafood without an authority.