Brighton man to be charged for illegal abalone haul

The Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) will charge a man suspected of a large illegal abalone haul in Brighton.

The individual was apprehended by Fisheries Officers in Greens Point and will be charged on summons with a variety of offences including taking undersize abalone, exceeding the catch limit, and possessing a commercial quantity of abalone.

The individual was found to have caught more than 460 abalone, 92 times over than the daily bag limit of five abalone per person. Of the caught fish, 420 were also under the legal minimum size of 10 cm.

Fisheries Officers returned all the caught abalone to the water.

Victorian Fisheries Authority Director of Enforcement and Education Ian Parks said two officers were patrolling the intertidal zone one evening when they allegedly observed a man with a speargun continuously diving offshore.

“Additional Fisheries Officers were called to assist with the apprehension of the man before officers on the scene allegedly saw the man remove a large catch bag from the shallows,” Mr Parks said.

The man proceeded to allegedly place the large catch bag of abalone into the boot of his vehicle and was intercepted as he attempted to leave the car park.

This apprehension follows another at Greens Point on New Year’s Eve when Fisheries Officers discovered four men who had allegedly harvested 311 abalone, 276 of which were undersize.

Anyone who sees or suspects illegal fishing is advised to call the VFA’s 24/7 reporting service via 13FISH (133474) to speak directly to a Fisheries Officer. Callers may opt to remain anonymous.