Australia: A New South Wales (NSW) South Coast seafood company has been fined over US$7,900 and ordered to pay US$16,750 in court costs after being found guilty of possessing hundreds of prohibited size fish taken illegally from Commonwealth waters and possessing fish without a prescribed record.
NSW Primary Industries Minister Steve Whan said a 44-year-old man was driving a refrigerated van north of Bateman's Bay in July 2007, when he was stopped by NSW Police and Industry & Investment (I&I) NSW Fisheries Officers.
"Upon inspection of the van, fisheries officers found a total of fourteen boxes of fish, three of which did not have the required receipt," Mr Whan said.
"In addition, out of a total of 650 tiger flathead seized, more than 400 of them were of a prohibited size under Commonwealth legislation and illegal in New South Wales."
Any person who is in possession of a quantity of fish destined for sale or any other commercial use, must produce a receipt to a fisheries officer on demand.
After three days of hearings, the man and his company were found guilty and ordered to pay over US$7,900 in fines, as well as US$16,750 in court costs.
"Legislation under the Fisheries Management Act 1994 is in place to ensure the sustainability of States fisheries resources for future generations," said Mr Whan.
"Just as commercial and recreational fishers are expected to abide by fisheries laws, so too are seafood retailers. The community expects all those who catch and sell seafood in NSW to abide by the law."
