Big fine for fishermen
Father and son fined and banned from fishing for not having a valid licenceA father and son have been fined $1500 each and banned from recreational fishing for a year after they were found fishing without a licence at Airey's Inlet in January, 2014.
The pair from Melbourne's north west, aged 51 and 27, were found guilty and sentenced in Broadmeadows Court this week.
DEPI Regional Fisheries Officer Western, Paul Millar said DEPI Fisheries Officers approached the men on January 27 this year where they were fishing at Split Point at Airey's Inlet to check if they had a valid licence.
"They failed to produce a recreational fishing licence, gave false details and one of the men assaulted a Fisheries Officer," said Millar.
The Court also heard that one of the men had been issued an infringement notice in 2008 for fishing without a valid licence.
When sentencing, the Magistrate emphasised that penalties could have easily been avoided given how quick and easy it is to get a recreational fishing licence.
A two-day recreational fishing licence costs just $6 and can be paid for online and printed immediately. Licences can also be bought for three-year, one-year and 28-day periods.
There is a free smartphone app produced by DEPI, called Fishing Vic, from which you can purchase your licence. They're also available from many DEPI offices and more than 980 retail businesses throughout Victoria, including most retail fishing tackle stores.
"Fisheries Officers conduct regular patrols across the state so we'd urge all fishers to make sure they have a valid licence with them," said Millar.
For more information visit http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/fishing-and-hunting/recreational-fishing/fishing-licence
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