It is said that the fisher has breached the fishing exemption he formerly operated under. Milton John, 62-year-old, COMINO was found guilty and fined a total of $4,500 in the Broome Magistrates Court. It follows fines of almost $1,800 issued against Kimley Ross WANN in Broome Court in April last year, after investigations into the discovery of shark remains on 80 Mile Beach.
The case revealed that in April 2008, Fisheries and Marine Officers from the Department of Fisheries Northern Region office inspected two separate fishing camps around 250 kilometres from Broome. The then Fisheries Minister John Ford took immediate steps to cancel the exemptions that allowed two commercial fishers to net fish along 80 Mile Beach.
The case reached to its final stage yesterday when the court announced its verdict by imposing fine $2,200 on a charge of failing to bury or cover bycatch and $800 on a further charge of failing to nominate persons fishing for him. He was also ordered to pay court costs of $1,500.
Department of Fisheries Northern Region Manager Peter Godfrey told that commercial fishers needed to be aware of and adhere to conditions on their licences or exemptions. He added that conditions are imposed for sound sustainability, environmental and operational reasons. Fisheries and Marine Officers estimated there were around 300 carcasses found at the dump site at Mr Comino’s camp on 80 Mile Beach.
