Over the King’s Birthday long weekend, Tasmania Police Marine and Rescue undertook marine safety and fisheries checks on the east coast of Tasmania around Coles Bay, Orford and Eaglehawk Neck and detected several offences.

Police detected numerous offences relating to people fishing for rock lobster, taking undersize flat head, and also taking scallops that were undersize or excess to their daily take limit of 50.

Police issued infringement notices, fines and cautions for:

• 32 x people detected breaching marine safety and fisheries rules.
• 3 x using / possessing rock lobster pots in closed area
• 7 x taking either undersize or excess scallops
• 12 x not having the minimum required safety equipment
• 7 x taking sand flathead under 350mm
• 3 x miscellaneous offences.

The public are reminded that the recreational rock lobster fishery for the Eastern Region has been closed since 1 May 2023, and that possession or use of rock lobster pots in the eastern region is an offence for which substantial fines exist.

Police also detected several fishers who had caught undersize sand flathead.  The public are reminded there have been recent changes to minimum size for sand flathead; the minimum legal size is now 350mm, with a reduced daily take limit of 10 fish.

Of the recreational boat users inspected, many were found to not have the minimum safety equipment on board including fire extinguishers, first aid kits, life rings, or expired flares. Recreational boaters are reminded to ensure they have the relevant safety equipment for the area in which they are operating.

Further information on recreational fishing and boat safety can be obtained from

Tasmania Sea Fishing Guide App or https://fishing.tas.gov.au/

Safe Boating Handbook or https://mast.tas.gov.au/

Members of the public can report Illegal fishing activity to FISHWATCH  0427 655 557