mrmoshe Posted December 26, 2010 Share Posted December 26, 2010 (edited) Man fined $20,000 for black market nippers December 26, 2010 - 11:14AM A man has been fined almost $20,000 after he was hooked with a batch of saltwater nippers destined for the black market. NSW Primary Industries Minister Steve Whan welcomed the hefty fine, saying it should act as a warning to people involved in the illegal trade. "Let these significant fines be a warning to any would-be offenders - that it is just not worth it," he said in a statement today. The 34-year-old from Sefton has twice been caught with thousands of nippers, or yabbies, at Port Hacking in southern Sydney. Fisheries officers nabbed him in 2008 with 1500 nippers, and again in 2009, when he was found with 2520 near Maianbar. It is believed all the nippers were destined to be illegitimately sold to bait and tackle stores. The man appeared in court earlier this month facing charges including possession of more than the limit of a species, which is 100 per person. He was fined $8100, plus court costs, and ordered to pay $9580 in professional costs. Mr Whan said officers would be out in force over the summer. "These persons are causing undue pressure on the stocks of saltwater nippers and effectively threatening stocks of saltwater nippers for future generations," he said. "They are also jeopardising the livelihood of commercial fishers who pay for the right to take saltwater nippers." He also warned that shops buying nippers illegally would be targeted. AAP Edited December 26, 2010 by MallacootaPete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jordan.widz Posted December 26, 2010 Share Posted December 26, 2010 $20,000 serves himself right, good to see this guy was caught yet there are still way to many people out there getting away with keeping undersized fish and going over their bag limit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musty Posted December 26, 2010 Share Posted December 26, 2010 HA HA HA SUCKED IN! this made my day! Sucks to be you mate! Musty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasty1 Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Gotta love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EGO Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 $20,000 serves himself right, good to see this guy was caught yet there are still way to many people out there getting away with keeping undersized fish and going over their bag limit In most cases bag limits aren't an issue(not in this case). Undersized fish is a big issue though. I've been fishing in botany bay and use the hole in the wall ramp at Sylvania and have never been checked be fisheries. They need to out more in peoples faces. It is getting harder to find bigger fish now so it's obvious they are not getting the chance to grow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennoz Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 the gov't isnt taking this seriously. theres too few officers covering to large an area and too many people stll do the wrong thing. 20k is nothing. he's been doing this for years and im sure he would have made more than 20k. up the fines i say Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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