Recreational fisher loses boat over black market fish sales
Fisheries officers claim man illegally sold months worth of catch to retail outlets for cashA Victorian recreational fisher has lost his Streaker cuddy cab boat after he allegedly sold his catch to restaurants and take-away food shops for a number of months.
The boat, estimated to be worth $40,000, was seized by Victorian Fisheries Authority officers. The man has also had to forfeit cash, a mobile phone and fishing equipment believed to have been used to catch the fish, as well as having a retention order placed on the vehicle used to deliver the fish.
The Leopold man is due to face Geelong Magistrates Court to face charges relating to taking fish for sale.
Illegal sellers targeted
VFA enforcement and education director Ian Parks said the man was caught as part of Operation Maple, which targeted the illegal sale of recreationally caught fish.
“The man allegedly caught King George whiting and calamari on many occasions around Queenscliff, always abiding by the daily catch limits to avoid detection,” Parks said.
“However, subsequent surveillance and investigations by fisheries officers revealed he was allegedly selling the fish to several retail outlets including restaurants and takeaway food shops.”
Those businesses also face the threat of prosecution from fisheries authorities and food safety regulators including fines and court orders that will ban them from dealing in seafood.
Only licenced commercial fishers are allowed to sell their catch in Victoria.
High retail prices
King George whiting can sell for close to $100 a kilogram at some retail outlets in Melbourne, although it normally retails for around $60 a kilogram.
The industry puts the high price of fresh fish down to growing demand and the gradual closure of traditional commercial inshore net fisheries at places including Port Phillip Bay and the Gippsland Lakes.
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