On Monday 15 April 2019, officers of Northern Territory Water Police observed a commercial fishing vessel entering the Charles Point Reef Fish Protection Area via the vessel’s monitoring systems (VMS).
On Monday 15 April 2019, officers of Northern Territory Water Police observed a commercial fishing vessel entering the Charles Point Reef Fish Protection Area via the vessel’s monitoring systems (VMS).
All commercial fishing vessels have a VMS attached to allow environmental and fisheries regulatory organisations to track and monitor the activities of fishing vessels.
Charles Point Reef Fish Protection Area is one of five reef protection areas designated by NT Fisheries to protect aggregation sites of Black Jewfish and Golden Snapper.
In response to this incident, NT Water Police officers attended the Frances Bay Marina and a 41-year-old male was issued a Notice to Appear for fishing a reef protection area in a commercial capacity.
On Monday 3 June 2019, the male appeared in the Darwin Local Court where he was convicted and fined $3,250 plus a $150 Victim Levy. The male’s catch, being 1025kgs of shark to the value of $1,999, was also forfeited and awarded to the Crown.
Senior Constable Kerin Souey of NT Water Police states, “a zero tolerance approached will be taken in relation to fishing protected areas whether recreational or commercial”.
MEDIA NOTE: Attached image to be credited to NTPFES.
