Calamari fisher loses boat for exceeding bag limits

The St Albans man was also hit with a six-month fishing ban and fined $750 after he was observed catching 96 calamari in October last year over three separate fishing trips out of Queenscliff.

The legal bag limit in the state is 10 calamari a day.

He also allegedly fished inside a marine national park, and committed other boating safety offences, the Victorian Fisheries Authority said.

“On one occasion, the man made two trips in a day with his wife,” Victorian Fisheries Authority education and enforcement director Ian Parks said.

“On the first trip, he was observed taking five calamari in the morning. He launched his boat again in the afternoon and took another 17 calamari, including five from within the Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park, where fishing is not permitted.

“A week later, the man took eight calamari in the early morning. He returned to the boat ramp to collect his wife, took another eight, then retrieved his boat and left Queenscliff.

“In the afternoon, he returned with his wife and took 17 more, making 33 calamari for the day.

“On a third occasion, the man took 18 calamari in the morning, retrieved his boat and travelled to Melbourne. He returned in the afternoon with his wife and took 23 more, making 41 in total.”

Fisheries officers then spoke to the man, who claimed the 23 calamari were the result of his only trip out on the water that day. He later admitted he had made more trips.

Parks urged boaters to report suspicious or illegal fishing to make it better for everyone.

“Victoria boasts excellent calamari fisheries along the coast, including Port Phillip Bay, and we want to keep it that way for a species that continues to grow in popularity, both for bait and human consumption,” he said.