FISHERMEN have been fined a total of $63,000 for illegally taking mud crabs and fish from Moreton Bay.
Two fishers were fined $53,000 in the Southport Magistrates Court after being found with more than 100 undersize and female sand and mud crabs in their possession.
Two people have been fined a total of $53,000 after being found in possession of a large number of female and undersized crabs and undersized fish taken from Paradise Point off South Stradbroke Island.
Fisheries Minister Mark Furner said while most fishers did the right thing, but there were still too many cases like this before the courts.
Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers conducted surveillance on the men's fishing and went to their home in February last year.
They found 26 blue swimmer crab claws, 43 female blue swimmer crabs, 64 undersized blue swimmer crabs, nine female mud crabs, four undersized mud crabs, commercial nets and undersize fish.'
The pair were also found guilty of obstructing an inspector after trying to hide the haul.
Mr Furner said one of the defendants had previously been issued nine infringement notices on three separate occasions.
"All fishers need to understand the regulations and requirements around crabbing and size limits," he said.
"Otherwise, you will be caught and you will be prosecuted.
"QBFP uses a range of techniques and technology to uncover illegal activities, including surveillance cameras. We also recently deployed drones as part of our compliance enforcement effort, making it even harder for people to hide illegal activities."
Meantime, a Moreton Bay commercial fisher and his deckhand who were caught with fish not permitted to be taken by the trawl fishery were fined $10,000.
Mr Furner said Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers boarded a trawler during routine inspections on February 9, 2018.
"Fisheries officers found nine shark barrels and a white spotted guitarfish, species which are off limits to commercial trawl fishers," he said.
"A licensed commercial fisher and a deckhand were charged with two counts of unlawfully taking restricted fish species when using a trawler net to fish."
Sandgate Magistrates Court fined the licence holder $8000 and the deckhand $2000 with no conviction recorded.
