Northern Territory Water Police will summons a commercial fisherman for skippering an unregistered vessel and possessing crabs unsuitable for commercial sale.

Officer in Charge of the Water Police Section Acting Senior Sergeant James J O'Brien said a member of the public alerted Police to a commercial fisherman operating in the salt water arm of the Adelaide River in an amateur fishing vessel.

Acting Senior Sergeant O’Brien said the Fisheries Act required any vessel used in conjunction with a fishing licence to be registered.

“The 44-year-old was apprehended on Wednesday morning in the vessel and an inspection confirmed that he was allegedly using it as a base for his mud crab fishing operation,” Acting Senior Sergeant O’Brien said.

“Sleeping arrangements, cooking equipment, food and personal belongings were located and a generator was running freezers and other electrical equipment.

“A catch inspection was conducted on three baskets of crabs, which were being held on the unregistered mother ship. That inspection found 11 crabs commercially unsuitable for sale.

“The crabs were released.

“The man was cautioned after one unrestrained crab was found in the holding tanks of another working vessel.

“The man will be summonsed shortly for the following offences:

Possess Commercially Unsuitable Crabs; and

Operate Unregistered Fishing Vessel.”

If you would like to report illegal or suspicious activity on the water please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit Crime Stoppers online on your mobile phone https://m.crimestoppers.com.au/NT.html

Media note: Photographs attached. Please attribute NT Police

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