The state government will introduce Australia's toughest illegal fishing legislation into parliament today.
The state government will introduce Australia's toughest illegal fishing legislation into parliament today.
Under the proposed legislation, individuals convicted of a third or subsequent offence must be sentenced to the maximum period of imprisonment of four years and receive the maximum fine of $150,000.
Fisheries minister Jon Ford said the new legislation would also:
- increase maximum penalties against bodies corporate from $100,000 to $300,000;
- increase penalties for individuals from $50,000 and imprisonment for two years to $150,000 and imprisonment for four years;
- introduce compulsory forfeiture of foreign boats; and
- provide fisheries officers with powers to seize suspected illegal fishing vessels.
"Many of these foreign pirates are repeat offenders who have not been deterred by existing penalties so today we are sending them a clear message: Come into Western Australian waters or set foot on our land and you will be jailed," Mr Ford said.
Mr Ford said illegal fishing represented a major biosecurity threat from animals, pests and disease on these foreign boats.
"For example, the introduction of black-striped mussel or a disease such as
foot-and-mouth would be catastrophic for WA's primary industries," the Minister said.
The move to beef up the fight against illegal fishing has also received support from the fishing industry's peak representative body.
WA Fishing Industry Council chief executive Graham Short said the council was completely supportive of the proposed legislation.
"The need to take strong action against illegal fishing is paramount to protect our fish stocks," Mr Short said.
Coupled with the threat to WA's fisheries, valuable trochus stocks in the Kimberley were also under direct attack from illegal fishing.
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Illegal fishing pirates will be jailed under nation's toughest legislation
Fisheries Minister Jon Ford has announced that the State Government will introduce Australia's toughest illegal fishing legislation into Parliament today.
"Many of these foreign pirates are repeat offenders who have not been deterred by existing penalties so today we are sending them a clear message: Come into Western Australian waters or set foot on our land and you will be jailed," Mr Ford said.
Under the proposed legislation, individuals convicted of a third or subsequent offence must be sentenced to the maximum period of imprisonment of four years and receive the maximum fine of $150,000.
The Minister said the new legislation would also:
- increase maximum penalties against bodies corporate from $100,000 to $300,000;
- increase penalties for individuals from $50,000 and imprisonment for two years to $150,000 and imprisonment for four years;
- introduce compulsory forfeiture of foreign boats; and
- provide fisheries officers with powers to seize suspected illegal fishing vessels.
Mr Ford said illegal fishing represented a major biosecurity threat from animals, pests and disease on these foreign boats.
"For example, the introduction of black-striped mussel or a disease such as
foot-and-mouth would be catastrophic for WA's primary industries," the Minister said.
"WA's shark stocks have already been overexploited as a direct result of illegal fishing and I have been forced to make decisions which impact adversely on the livelihoods of legitimate WA fishers, their families and communities."
Coupled with the threat to WA's fisheries, valuable trochus stocks in the Kimberley were also under direct attack from illegal fishing.
The move to beef up the fight against illegal fishing has also received support from the fishing industry's peak representative body.
WA Fishing Industry Council chief executive Graham Short said the council was completely supportive of the proposed legislation.
"The need to take strong action against illegal fishing is paramount to protect our fish stocks," Mr Short said.
Mr Ford said illegal fishing was putting huge pressure on fish stocks and causing serious problems for WA's fishing industry.
"The Carpenter Government is committed to ensuring the community and fishing industry are protected from the real and immediate threats posed by illegal fishing," he said.
