Abalone poacher

A NOBLE Park man has narrowly escaped jail over an illegal abalone haul.
Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court heard Fisheries Victoria officers saw the 43-year-old emerging from the water in the Ricketts Point Marine Protected Area with 401 abalone – 205 undersized – on 11 August last year.
They told the court they saw him diving at 11pm, before he turned his torch off and returned to shore.
As officers approached him he ran back to into the water, throwing away some of his diving equipment.
Magistrate Luisa Bazzani sentenced the man to six months’ jail, suspended for two years, ordered him to pay a $2000 fine and placed him on a five-year order prohibiting him from taking or possessing abalone.
All of his diving equipment was forfeited.
The daily bag limit per person for abalone is five, with no more than two greenlip.
Fisheries Victoria executive director Ross McGowan said abalone poaching threatened sustainability.
“Restrictions are in place to help protect these resources and ensure that they are appropriately shared among users,” he said.
“Anyone who sees or suspects illegal fishing activity is urged to call the 24-hour reporting line, 13FISH.”