A 54-year-old man from Success was penalised $6,000 in the Fremantle Magistrates Court last week for interfering with commercial fishing gear and not holding a valid commercial fishing licence.
In July 2023, Fisheries officers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development observed the man cutting float lines to four octopus pots from a vessel in Cockburn Sound.
The officers recovered the four floats from the water which were marked with the commercial licence number of another fisherman licensed to operate in Cockburn Sound.
Further investigation found the man had also fished in Cockburn Sound on three separate occasions between June and July 2023 without holding a valid commercial fishing licence.
DPIRD senior operations manager Liam Plant said it is an offence to interfere with fishing gear, and it was not acceptable at any time and was taken very seriously by the Department and the courts.
"The gear used by commercial fishers across the State is regulated to protect the sustainability of the marine environment," Mr Plant said.
"Interfering with the gear can not only have an impact on fish stocks and the broader marine environment but also on commercial fishers being able to carry out their lawful fishing activities.
"Ensuring a valid licence is held for commercial fishing is also essential so catch can be monitored to help support the research and science programs which monitor the sustainability of WA's valuable fish stocks."
