This is a case study of a summary criminal prosecution in the Magistrates Court of Queensland for fisheries offences.
In November 2009 and December 2009 Queensland Fisheries officers apprehended the offender in two tributories of Moreton Bay adjacent to Brisbane in South East Queensland.
The offender was not licenced as a commercial fisherman and searches of his boat in November and December 2009 uncovered:
- 52 undersized mud crabs
- 49 female mud crabs
- 95 mud crabs in excess of bag limits for recreational fishermen
- unmarked crab pots
- a commercial fishing net.
The fisherman was subsequently charged under the Fisheries Act 1994 (Qld). He pleaded guilty to all of the charges and was fined $30,000.
Key documents
- Complaint filed for November 2009 offences (five charges)
- Complaint filed for December 2009 offences (five charges)
- Summons to appeal for both complaints.
- Maps showing the locations of the offences in tributories of Moreton Bay.
- Photographs of offender being apprehended and fishing gear located in his boat in December 2009.
- Prosecutor’s submissions on sentence (which include a detailed description of the background and nature of the offences).
A ministerial media release in relation to the $30,000 is available here.
Thanks to the Queensland Department of Employment, Education and Innovation (DEEDI) for the materials used in this case study.
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Fishing gear located in the offender’s vessel
Photos courtesy of the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol, DEEDI
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The offender being apprehended
Photos courtesy of the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol, DEEDI
