The reports of massive illegal catches of prawns on Coila Lake and big breeding flathead being killed on Tuross Lake are part of a disturbing trend where people will do the wrong thing if they think they can get away with it.
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It also highlights the need for more Fisheries officers enforcing regulations and making sure people are not doing the wrong thing. There was at least one case and probably numerous others over the holidays where observant locals noticed poaching or other nefarious activity but could not get Fisheries to come out in time.
Why is it that when we have a good thing like the trophy flathead in Tuross Lake or a bumper prawn crop in adjacent Coila Lake that people have to do the wrong thing, raping and pillaging the resource?
We reported this week that DPI Fisheries officers are investigating South Coast seafood retailers in relation to prawn purchases following a number of Coila Lake prawn hauls being seized.
Targeted inspections seized huge hauls of cooked prawns as part of Operation Portunus, a statewide operation targeting illegal crabbing and prawning activity, and raising awareness of the rules and regulations.
As part of the operation seven people were allegedly found in possession of 280 litres of prawns (pictured left), well above the 10 litre per person limit, which were seized along with a hand-hauled prawn net and prawn cooker at Coila Lake.
Another seven people were found, during separate inspections, to have exceeded the bag limit of prawns at Coila Lake, with officers seizing over 57 litres of prawns over the course of a number of patrols. A number of these people have been issued fines.
It’s not surprising that we’ve heard recent reports of no more prawns in Coila Lake, and that one day there may not be any big flathead left in Tuross Lake.
Let’s have more operations such as Operation Portunus – we all pay our fishing license money, and how about instead of more boat ramps, let’s just hire more officers so they can be out on the water or on call, so when we make the call, they can be there, notepad in hand, ready to protect a resource that belongs to us all and that brings in tourists.
Further information on fishing rules, regulations, bag and size limits is available at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/fishing-rules-and-regs or just simply call the Fishers Watch Phoneline on 1800 043 536 if you see someone doing the wrong thing.