Two Perth men were ordered to collectively pay more than $6,000 in fines and penalties in Busselton Court on Tuesday this week for offences including exceeding their bag limits for Roe's abalone, illegally shucking abalone, obstruction and fishing without a licence.
Fisheries officers with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development intercepted the illegal catch ahead of a roadside checkpoint set up at Cape Naturaliste near Dunsborough in the Southern Zone of WA's abalone fishery.
A 37-year-old Morley man was seen stopping his vehicle about 200 metres before the checkpoint to attempt to offload a bag of 89 shucked abalone into nearby vegetation.
An accompanying 47-year-old Balga man, following in a second car had also stopped.
Fisheries Officers directed both drivers to proceed to the checkpoint where they inspected the vehicles and located 168 shucked Roe's abalone.
DPIRD Director Regional Compliance South Noel Chambers said the apprehension came as a result of a call to FishWatch from a member of the public.
"The daily bag limit for Roe's in the Southern Zone between Busselton Jetty and the South Australian Border is 20 per person per day. The two fishers admitted removing the shells (shucking) while in the water, which is also an offence," Mr Chambers said.
"All edible molluscs except oysters must be landed whole and kept in the shell until fishers are more than 200 metres inland from the high-water mark."
The Morley fisher also did not hold a current recreational abalone fishing licence at the time of taking the abalone.
"All fishers are reminded to follow the daily bag and possession limits and only take what they need to help keep our abalone stocks sustainable," Mr Chambers said.
The Southern Zone abalone fishery is currently closed and will reopen on 1 October.
See WA's 2026 recreational fishing guide for more information on abalone and all other fish species, including Statewide bag and size limits.
Anyone who suspects illegal fishing activity should call FishWatch on 1800 815 507 or report the matter via the online form on Crimestoppers .
