Crab Pot Thieves Court Prosecution
8 April, 2004

The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and the Queensland Police Service has warned that people caught stealing crab pots will be prosecuted after a spate of incidents in the Hervey Bay area.

Hervey Bay-based Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) district officer Carl Shurey said anyone caught interfering with or stealing crab pots faced a hefty fine and possible prosecution

“There have been a series of thefts of crab pots as well as people removing crabs from pots,” he said.

“These are all offences under the Fisheries Act 1994 and anyone found breaking the regulations will be dealt with accordingly.”

Officer-in-charge of the Hervey Bay Water Police Sergeant Greg Dixon said stealing crab pots is an offence under the Criminal Code.

“Anyone found stealing pots will be brought before the courts,” he said.

Mr Shurey said people needed to be aware of all the current crabbing regulations including crab pot rules as well as the size and take and possession limits.“There is a take and possession limit of 10 male mud crabs and a minimum size limit of 15cm,” he said.

“People are also only allowed to use four crab pots. They need to be clearly marked with the owner’s name and address and, if using a float, must also have the owner’s name on it.”

Mr Shurey said fisheries regulations were aimed at sustaining Queensland’s valuable fisheries resources.

“Rules are in place to protect and conserve mud crab stocks. By following the regulations these valuable fisheries resources will be around for current and future generations of Queenslanders,” he said.

For more information about fisheries rules and regulations, contact the Hervey Bay QBFP office on (07) 4125 3989, call the DPI Call Centre of 13 25 23 or visit the DPI Fishweb site at www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb


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: Carl Shurey (07) 4125 3989
Communications Officer: Carly Wood (07) 3224 7757

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