Pretty sure I saw on TV once, that they can seize (and not give back) things like boats and vehicles used in illegal fishing activities, the fine might just be the start of their woes, can't see them going easy on them either.
Happens every couple of years around here..
2010;
A COUPLE of fishing trips have cost a man $30,000 after he was caught with more than 100 undersized and female mud crabs.
Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin said the man from Inala was caught in targeted raids by Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers last November and December.
As well as being found in possession of 52 undersized crabs and 49 female crabs, the man was charged with using unmarked crab pots and possessing a commercial fishing net without a licence.
He appeared in Redcliffe Magistrates Court on September 1 where he was found guilty and fined.
2013;
A REPEAT offender has been fined $10,000 and had his boat seized and forfeited to the State for illegal crabbing.
"QBFP followed and intercepted a vehicle towing a boat after it departed a boat ramp at Tingalpa Creek late at night," Mr Watts said
"A search of the vehicle found 15 undersized mud crabs, 10 female mud crabs, 3 undersized male blue swimmer crabs, 7 female blue swimmer crabs and 10 undersized yellow fin bream.
"Inspection of the boat found a further 18 undersized male mud crabs and 9 female mud crabs concealed in the canopy of the vessel."
Mr Watts said the defendant was known to QBFP with previous offences recorded.
"In 2007, the defendant was convicted and fined $3250, and his boat seized and forfeited to the State, for possessing undersized fish and crabs and female mud crabs," he said.
"He also had a number of previous fisheries offences prior to 2007.
But the most famous one was in 2015;
The Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) destroyed the boat after it was found with a modified hull, which concealed 69 live mud crabs, some of which were undersized, and some were breeding females. State Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Bill Byrne said despite the boat’s price tag, destruction was the only option.
“While the boat was forfeited to the state, we were not prepared to resell it as we could not guarantee the safety and integrity of the vessel due to alterations made,” he said
The three fishermen on board the boat, from the Moreton Bay area, were fined $20,650 in Redlands Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of undersized and female mud crabs. The crabs, all alive, were returned to the water.
One defendant was also charged with obstruction and two defendants were charged with making false and misleading statements, the groups motor, trailer and crab pots were also confiscated.
https://www.redlandcitybulletin.com.au/story/3501804/boat-destruction-a-warning-to-fishers-video/
