News Release January 8th, 2010
Court says fishers need to take responsibility for fishing legally
A South Coast magistrate has said it’s up to recreational and commercial fishers to know whether or not they are fishing in a permitted area.
Magistrate Doug Dick made the comments while sentencing two men for fishing illegally in a sanctuary zone, in Jervis Bay Marine Park, in the Nowra Local Court earlier this week.
40-year-old Andrew Allen of Dapto and 50-year-old William Baillie of Sussex Inlet pleaded not guilty however Magistrate Dick found the men guilty and convicted them of the offences.
The men were each fined $2000 and ordered to pay costs of $976.
The men had elected to go to court after initially being issued with on-the-spot fines of $500 each.
The Court heard that in January last year the men had been on board a boat from which fishing lines with lures were being trolled, in the Point Perpendicular-Crocodile Head Sanctuary Zone, in the Jervis Bay Marine Park.
In finding the men guilty, Magistrate Dick noted that marine park officers had known the men were in a sanctuary zone, not only from GPS technology but from prominent landmarks.
Magistrate Dick found the men had engaged in a joint criminal enterprise of fishing in the sanctuary zone and emphasised that people fishing were themselves responsible for finding out whether they were lawfully allowed to fish.
Jervis Bay Marine Park manager Matt Carr said it was a timely reminder, particularly for people who are unfamiliar with the area, to make sure they had a zoning map with them when venturing out into the marine park.
“All major boat ramps are signposted with marine park maps. Free maps showing where fishing is allowed are available from the marine park office, at local outlets and from the Marine Parks Authority website.”
Mr Carr also said that where circumstances and conditions allowed, sanctuary zones, which are the most protected and sensitive areas within the marine park, were marked with signposts and buoys.Media Contact: Tonia Liosatos
Telephone: 02 6495 5024
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