one of the worst things people people can do imo is to take breeding crays
bloke below has been pinged for it
clearly he knew what he was doing

hezzy

Big fine for taking egg-carrying female and protected lobsters

​A 36-year-old man, Michael John Pereira from Serpentine, has been ordered to pay $5,669 in fines and penalties for not only taking totally protected rock lobsters, but also removing the majority of a female lobster’s egg-carrying appendages.

In Fremantle Court this week (Monday), evidence was presented to explain that the lobster was one of a dozen western rock lobsters found in a cooler box on board a vessel that was inspected near the Leeuwin Boat Ramp in East Fremantle on 30 December last year.

All of the rock lobsters had been taken that day from pots set off Rottnest Island.

The court heard that a Fisheries and Marine officer found residual eggs attached to one of the remaining egg-carrying appendages, which are known as endopodites. A number of rock lobster eggs were also discovered on the deck and gunnel of the boat.

Rock lobsters with eggs attached beneath their body, also described as berried females, are prescribed as totally protected fish. The mutilated rock lobster was therefore a totally protected fish. The accused had removed the endopodites and attached eggs with the intention of preventing determination of whether the rock lobster was a protected fish. It is an offence for a person to alter, mutilate, or disfigure any fish with the intention of preventing that determination.

In addition to the berried female lobster, a further three lobsters were in setose or tar spot condition. Western rock lobsters in either condition are protected between Windy Harbour and North West Cape.

North Metro Compliance Manager Todd A’Vard said the rules around egg-carrying lobsters and also the protection of those in setose or tar spot condition were important in respecting the key times in the breeding cycle for female lobsters.

“We urge rock lobster fishers, who may be unsure of these rules, to make themselves aware of them,” Mr A’Vard said. “The onus is on fishers, at all times, to know the rules.”

“In the current season, we especially need rock lobster fishers to understand the new pot sharing rules, which allow for two licensed fishers to share a rock lobster pot. Each fisher must attach a separate float with only their gear identification (ID) number on it, to the pot. No more than two floats, each with only one gear ID number, must be attached.

“Each licence holder may use no more than two pots to fish for lobster, even if sharing pots. Fishers are not permitted to bring home lobsters on behalf of the person who shares their pot and may only take and land their own bag limit.”

More information on WA’s rock lobster fishing rules and limits is available in the Recreational fishing for rock lobster guide 2015/16. Find that at www.fish.wa.gov.au, or collect them from departmental offices, or Information

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