Queensland-based black market fishers face court

Brisbane Magistrates Court yesterday also placed the black market fishers on up to two-year good behaviour bonds, while the seafood wholesaler who bought the Spanish mackerel, yellowfin tuna and wahoo in june last year was fined more than $24,000 and ordered to pay investigation and court costs.

Fisheries Queensland provided video to the Brisbane Magistrates Court showing the business owner receiving fish in exchange for cash payments.

The offences were committed in June 2019, before even harsher new laws aimed at stamping out the black market trafficking in highly sought-after fish were introduced to the state.

“Recent amendments to Fisheries legislation have provided greater protection and harsher penalties to species of high commercial value, including Spanish mackerel which are now declared a priority fish for trafficking,” Queensland Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Minister Mark Furner said.

“Black marketing of seafood by fishers who do not have a legitimate licence to sell fish undermines our commercial fishing industry and threatens Queensland’s reputation as a producer of high-quality seafood.”

Fisheries officers searched a Morningside seafood wholesaler in June 2019 following a complaint, seized closed-circuit television footage and searched homes at Bowen Hills and Thornlands during the investigation.

Fisheries officers searched a Morningside seafood wholesaler in June 2019 following a complaint and seized closed-circuit television footage.

The video shows the fish being unloaded from a trailer boat into crates on a forklift, and a large quantity of cash being counted out and handed over in an office.

The officers also searched homes in Bowen Hills and Thornlands during their investigation.