Three boats seized in separate investigations into illegal fishing in Queensland have been crushed and permanently destroyed, as authorities warned that vessels used in the black-market seafood trade could be forfeited.
The boats belonged to men from Russell Island, the Gold Coast and Brisbane who were found selling seafood without commercial authority or in possession of illegal mud crabs, according to Queensland’s Boating and Fisheries Patrol.
Fisheries deputy director-general Pauline Jacob said the cases involved serious illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activity rather than minor recreational breaches.
“These were significant operations,” Ms Jacob said. “They’re not your mum and dad catching an extra-large fish or a smaller fish or a fish they shouldn’t be catching.”
Illegal seafood sales and mud crab offences
A Russell Island man had been selling mud crabs, king threadfin salmon and mulloway to people in the Redlands area without the authority required for commercial sales.
A Gold Coast man was found with more than two dozen undersized mud crabs and seven female mud crabs, while a search of a Brisbane man’s home uncovered buckets containing mud crabs.
The Brisbane man pleaded guilty to 62 offences. Across the three cases, the offenders were fined more than $40,000.
Fisheries Queensland said illegal operators undercut legitimate commercial fishers by avoiding the cost of licences and the strict food safety requirements that apply to authorised businesses.
The department has warned that boats and equipment used to commit serious fisheries offences can be forfeited. The destruction of the three vessels forms part of an increased focus on unlawful seafood sales and other major fishing breaches.
