According to Industry and Investment (I&I) NSW Fisheries Compliance Manager Glenn Tritton in a major crackdown of illegal fishing the auhtoirty has run a six week operation in the New England district. The operation has seen a number of offenders fined for using illegal hand held lines and possessing prohibited size fish.
Tritton also said that I&I NSW Fisheries Officers have conducted patrols in the New England District on Copeton and Pindari Dams and along the McIntyre and Gwydir Rivers during July and August. He further said that the officers checked a total of 15 fishers, with $4800 in penalty notices issued to 11 people reported for use of excess lines, possess prohibited fishing gear, mutilate fish and fail to pay or produce recreational fishing fees.
It is told that there were 122 illegal hand held and set lines were seized by officers, along with a yabby trap and three Murray cod and five golden perch in a mutilated condition. Anglers are only permitted to use two hand held lines and must be within 50 metres of those lines. Setlines were banned in 2007. Tritton also opined that “The regular patrols of inland waterways across the state are necessary to ensure fishers are complying with the rules for the benefit of everyone.
The use of illegal fishing gear comes with a $500 on the spot fine or a maximum fine imposed by the court of $22,000. He also told that all money raised from the recreational fishing fee allows money to be spent on improving recreational fishing, including restocking native species in waterways and educational and advisory programs.
