Trio fined after netting catch in Roebuck Bay

Three men aged between 25 and 27 have been ordered to pay fines and costs totalling $2500 after set netting in Roebuck Bay in WA’s Kimberley.

All Kimberley waters are closed to haul and set netting at all times.

The trio appeared in Broome Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday after fisheries and marine officers were tipped off on February 25 this year about three men in a dinghy removing fish from a net set in waters near the mouth of False Crab Creek, near Broome.

A press release issued by the Department of Fisheries, released yesterday, said that when officers arrived at the location, they found a set net in the water.

On retrieving the net, five sharks, six catfish and one giant threadfin were removed from the net; eight of the fish were dead.

The court was told that, as the officers prepared for departure; they were approached by three men in a dinghy, matching the description given by the witnesses.

A search of the dinghy detected two giant threadfin and one blue threadfin, all of which were later examined by a Department of Fisheries scientist, who confirmed that the fish had died as result of being caught by means of a gill net.

“FMOs in the Kimberley consider this to be an extremely serious offence, which impacts heavily on the marine environment and the recreational fishing experience,” prosecuting officer Andrew Gatt said.

Mr Gatt encouraged members of the public provide to help track down offenders by calling call FISHWATCH on 1800 815 507.