North Australian FISH FINDER TM forums

NT Govt PRESS RELEASE: Fisheries Compliance Operation March 9, 2013

Over the weekend Water Police, in their capacity as Fisheries Officers, conducted patrols of the Finniss River area and conducted fisheries compliance and marine safety inspections on recreational and commercial fishers.

Sergeant John Pini said, “There were quite a few people out enjoying fishing on the river and from the beaches and it was pleasing to see that most people were observing the recreational fishing limits and carrying the required safety gear.”

A number of unattended and unmarked crab pots were confiscated by Water Police from the Finniss River and the crabs returned alive to the water.

Sergeant Pini has urged crabbers to make sure their pots are clearly marked with the full name of the person using them.

When catching mud crabs, a maximum of 5 pots or dillies can be used per person, or up to 10 pots or dillies per boat when 2 or more people are on board.

The Water Police also spoke and issued cautions to a number of people on quad bikes and other off road vehicles.

“Quad bikes and other vehicles being operated in public places require registration and licensed riders or drivers. Drink driving laws also apply,” Sergeant Pini said.

A number of complaints have been received in relation to unauthorised access on Aboriginal lands west of the Finniss River and west of the Daly River for hunting or fishing access. Water police and local police will be targeting such unlawful activity in coming months in this area.

“It is the responsibility of fishers and hunters to ensure that they know which areas they are allowed to access. Appropriate permissions must be obtained before entering, and if the land is Aboriginal land, then written permission to be there is required,” Sergeant Pini said.

For more information on recreational fishing rules go to http://www.nt.gov.au/d/Fisheries/.

If you have any information on suspected illegal fishing activities please call Fishwatch on 1800 891 136

In the Northern Territory, Police have the responsibility for fisheries enforcement on behalf of the Director of Fisheries.

Come on Matt, they are now in BLUE.
Imagine cops in NSW or elsewhere issuing cautions for unregistered vehicles. Issuing a caution maens that the drivers realise they wont get in trouble, so they keep doing it

Don't the marine fellows wear brown?

Beats me why NT cops had to wear blue, why do they want to make the NT like down south?

When is the Finniss closure coming into effect.
Heard something about march ???
Hate to find out the hard way.

So does this mean all the beaches everywhere are "Public Space" ????

Was at middle arm this morning at just
before 12 noon.Pro crabber pulling out
with more (way more) than 10 steel pots
all with zinc anodes, all with 10mm green
rope, all with same torpedo foats that
they use.Ive been around... and it
quacked like a duck full stop. I was under the impression that com crabbing in
the harbour was not on leagally.I have the
rego of the new grey amorak but not
boat numbers as none dislayed (how unusual).Have been calling fish watch all day no answer, this number is still on the net.
Must be gubbenment cut backs maybe but
this what we have come to with respect
for the regs from these guys.

Yep, no commercial crabbing permitted in the harbour.

Matt police in blue and how can a fken commercial crabber operate like that on our front door step. Maybe he knew that the police would be at the Finnish rather than the harbor???????? Well done AM report the pr..k.

No win situation as you can pull your boat
and pots and crabs and relatives out at
any boat ramp anywhere by the law. If
the gears isnt in the water no case
but at least a tap on the shoulder to
say were watching wouldnt be a bad
result. I am just a bit sick of it they
know and work the system, our bl..dy
system!, to perfection. I will give the
normal fishos line in the morning a call they are pretty helpfull guys.The FW line not answering is as bigger problem as the crabber thing really.

AM wrote:No win situation as you can pull your boat
and pots and crabs and relatives out at
any boat ramp anywhere by the law. If
the gears isnt in the water no case
but at least a tap on the shoulder to
say were watching wouldnt be a bad
result. I am just a bit sick of it they
know and work the system, our bl..dy
system!, to perfection. I will give the
normal fishos line in the morning a call they are pretty helpfull guys.The FW line not answering is as bigger problem as the crabber thing really.

Make the law that every time the pro crabbers want to land at a public ramp they have to call the fisheries before hand and state when and where. Then if they are found on a ramp or in the harbor with out notification to authorities they can get done! Catches and sizes could also be checked.

Did anybody see the small artical in the paper a few weeks ago that detailed the tied mud crabs found at the dump (that was 100s of crabs). The author went on to say it is related to mortality in transport of commercial crabs coming in from remote spots and is pretty regular occurence. the point wass made that if it were any other livestock in transport to maket there would be a giant public outcry about it, maybe it could be time for a shake up. The crabbing industry is one I dont have much of an idea about but they do get a bit of bad press thats for sure.

Matt Flynn wrote:Don't the marine fellows wear brown?

Beats me why NT cops had to wear blue, why do they want to make the NT like down south?

Nope its so the march flies can find them easier lol they do like the old blue colour the most