Illegal fishers at Browns Mountain have boat seized

Two crooked Sydney fishermen have had their boat forfeited by the Court after being found in possession of more than 250kg of illegally-caught deep-sea fish stashed in various holds of the tinny. To make matters worse, they borrowed the boat from a mate.

Fisheries officers searched the boat and found a serious stash of fish on board, much of it hidden in concealed compartments under the deck.

A total of 17 gemfish weighing 75kg, 13 blue eye trevalla weighing 165kg, and other fish weighing 10kg were found in the boat.

A 46-year-old man from Fairfield and a 37-year-old man from Dee Why were found in possession of more than the permitted quantity of deep sea fish species. And they have been nabbed.

The boat, valued at more than $35,000, has been confiscated by the State. It was owned by another man who wasn’t present at the time of the offences. The crooked fishers also received $20,000 in fines.

ONGOING PROBLEM AT BROWNS
Overharvesting of deep-sea fish such as gemfish and blue-eye trevalla by deceitful fishermen has been an ongoing problem in the Sydney area, with Browns Mountain 40km offshore being the hotspot and, sadly, the black spot.

We reported on another illegal gemfish bust from Browns Mountain as recently as September 10 this year.

Sydney's most popular sea mountain is no secret, as we wrote about in this location guide to Browns Mountain. With modern electronics, a flotilla of fishing boats swarms the mountains most weekends.

Of course, most anglers play by the rules. But there have long been calls to catch the 'shamateurs' seen decking fish after fish. The bag limits are strict as detailed below.

As we reported in August 1, 2016, a disgraceful poacher was busted with 38 gemfish weighing almost 160kg hidden in his plate boat and had that boat, motor, trailer and fishing gear seized at Port Botany.

You can read about this previous bust in our article about fish poacher forfeits boat with hidden chamber.

GUILTY OF POACHING AT BROWNS
NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Director of Fisheries Compliance, Patrick Tully, said fisheries officers spotted these latest crooked fishers in the Parramatta River near Kissing Point.

When approached the men told the officers they had been fishing offshore at Browns Mountain and had caught a lawful amount of fish.

"Officers seized the boat, motors, trailer, fish and fishing gear on the spot. The men were each charged with possessing more than the legal limit of fish in circumstances of aggravation," Mr Tully said.

The two men appeared before the Downing Centre on September 25, 2017 and entered guilty pleas.

DEEP-SEA FISH BAG LIMITS
In NSW, there is a daily bag limit of five deep-sea species per person and only two can be gemfish. Other deep-sea species include hapuka, banded rock cod, bass groper and blue-eye trevalla.

A boat limit of 10 gemfish applies if more than five anglers are fishing from the same boat.

"Illegal fishing risks the sustainability of the resource for legitimate recreational and commercial fisheries and presents serious food safety issues," Mr Tully said. "People found illegally fishing can expect severe consequences."

Anyone with information on suspected illegal fishing activity is urged to contact their local Fisheries office, call the Fishers Watch phone line on 1800 043 536 or report illegal fishing activities online at Online Report Illegal Fishing Form.