According to a news release all the three Toowoomba recreational fishers have been fined $2000 each by the Maroochydore Magistrates Court for four separate fisheries offences. As per the statement issued by the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) District Officer at Mooloolaba Rick Exten this case highlighted the need for fishers to know the rules.
Exten said also said that they hope this has still taught them a critical lesson about the importance of knowing Queensland’s recreational fishing rules and regulations, specifically relating to bag and size limits. It is informed that the trio had spent the day fishing at Barwon Banks, off Mooloolaba catching a total of 117 fish, ranging from collard sea bream and tuskfish to red throat emperor species.
QBFP has launched inspection and found the group was in possession of: undersize fish including three pearl perch, one coral cod and 63 red throat emperor 28 collard sea bream and 39 red throat emperor in excess of the individual possession limits; 53 coral reef fin fish in excess of the 20 per person possession limit; 113 coral reef fin fish without the pectoral fin removed – a requirement to distinguish fish caught recreationally from those commercially caught to prevent blackmarket selling.
It was told that the fishers were not educated much to know the bag and size limits – in fact they were not even aware of the species of fish they were catching. Exten added that the fish stocks are an important resource and rules are in place to protect our fisheries for future generations to enjoy.
