Five fined for abalone catch

Five fishermen have been fined a total of more than $23,500 for exceeding the legal limit of abalone at Cape Naturaliste.

The penalties were handed down at Busselton Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

They were the result of a targeted operation by Fisheries officers from Busselton, Bunbury, Albany and Esperance.

Nannup man Shaolin Wu, 50, admitted exceeding his daily bag limit by 112 abalone and was fined more than $6000 including court costs.

On December 4 last year, Fisheries officers discovered two bags of abalone which Wu had hidden in bush when fishing at Sugar Loaf Rock.

Perth men Hang Bae Yun, 57, and Soong Yun Lee, 52, both admitted exceeding the legal limit for abalone at the same place on November 5 last year and they were each fined $4236.90 including costs.

Harvey man Alfred Wayne McClutchie, 54, was caught with 71 abalone over the legal limit at Yallingup on December 8 last year.

McClutchie told the court he caught 55 abalone the day before and was only 35 over the legal limit.

Magistrate Elizabeth Hamilton said the time period was irrelevant and fined McClutchie $4276.90 including costs.

Perth man Changmin Lee, 31, was fined $4266.90 including costs for exceeding the legal limit of abalone on January 1 at Sugar Loaf Rock.

At the time, Lee told Fisheries officers he had caught nine abalone, but a bag containing a further 65 abalone was found hidden by him in rocks.

Another fisherman — Yuankai Tang — has been charged with refusing to supply Fisheries officers with information. His case was adjourned until March 11 for him to appear in person at Busselton Magistrate’s Court.

A further 22 people have already received fines from $200 to $1000 for minor offences as a result of the operation.

Fisheries compliance manager for the southern region Richard Petty said while most people abided by the rules, others continued to flout them.

He said suspicious or illegal activity had been reported to Fishwatch on 1800 815 507.

The recreational abalone season from Busselton Jetty to the South Australia border runs until May 15 and patrols will continue.

For more information, visit www.fish.wa.gov.au or go to Fisheries’ Busselton office at 48a Bussell Highway.