The report states that a 32-year-old Rockingham man has been fined more than $1,300 for aquaculture offence. He has breached a condition of an aquaculture licence granted to a company he worked for. Last week the Rockingham Magistrates Court was told that David Richard Hilton was employed by Mussels WA Pty Ltd and involved in the day to day running of the business.
In august hearing the court said that a marker and safety lighting were not at their prescribed location for a particular aquaculture lease in Cockburn Sound. When contacted by a Fisheries and Marine Officer on that day, Hilton was directed to replace the missing marker and lighting within two days.
Defending himself Hilton had told officers that it had been too rough to put a diver in the water during that time, to replace the marker, but he also admitted that on behalf of the company he had continued to harvest mussels from the site. The Magistrate fined Hilton $1,000 plus court costs of $314.
The decision of fine was welcomed by South Metropolitan Region Compliance Manager John Breeden. He said that the fine is an appropriate penalty for an identified breach of the aquaculture license covering the site. Breeden also said that aquaculture equipment presents a significant navigational hazard to mariners, especially by night. It is a marine safety and Fremantle Port Authority requirement that prescribed marking and lighting is maintained in an operational condition at all times on aquaculture sites, because markers like this are also depicted on navigational charts of the area.
