Largest Fine Recorded For Abalone Offence
13 February, 2004

A Gold Coast man has been fined $25,000 for not possessing the correct documentation for processing abalone.

This is the highest penalty to date in Queensland for any seafood marketing offence.

The man, who has already been convicted previously for a similar offence, pleaded guilty to the offence in the Southport Magistrates Court recently.

The product was seized and its $5800 value forfeited to the court.

The conviction was the result of a combined effort between the Department of Primary Industries Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) and other State and Commonwealth agencies.

QBFP field officer George Theiber said although not a natural commercial fishery resource in Queensland, the processing of abalone was closely monitored and tracked through the National Docketing System

Mr Theiber said the system also ensured the quality of abalone consumed met Australian safe food standards.

“To process abalone, people need to have the proper documentation which shows they have legally purchased the product from a registered commercial operator,” he said.

“There is a large abalone black market trade in Australia and this documentation helps us to determine whether the product has been legally purchased or not and to keep a check on the industry.”

Mr Theiber said the large fine highlighted how seriously the courts took fisheries offences.

“This is the largest fine to date for an abalone marketing offence in Queensland and should send a message out to anyone considering breaking fisheries legislation,” he said.

“Fisheries rules are in place to protect and conserve fisheries resources.”

Department of Primary Industries Media Unit
GPO Box 46 Brisbane Qld 4001 Ph 07 3239 6380
DPI Call Centre 13 25 23 (weekdays 8 am to 6 pm)


Further information: George Theiber (07) 5583 5500
Communications Officer: Liz Smith (07) 3224 7757

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