This is only a slap on the wrists IMHO





Hopkins river fish thieves land heavy penalties



Two Melbourne men will pay fines and compensation of nearly $15,000 each
after pleading

guilty to a number of illegal fishing charges in the Warrnambool Magistrates
Court yesterday.



The charges arose from the discovery of nets in the Hopkins River, near
Warrnambool, last

October.



39 year old Tam Tran of Ardeer, in Melbourne's west, was also given a three
month jail term,

suspended for 2 years.



He and his accomplice, 36 year old Tri Tran of Sunshine North, were both
fined $10,000 on a total of seven charges each, they were also ordered to
pay $500 costs and another $4224 in compensation for the fish.



Both men were ordered to forfeit fishing gear, a trailer and an inflatable
boat.



315 fish, mostly bream and perch were found in the nets when they were
discovered by

members of the public last year and reported to authorities. Only 50 of the
fish could be

returned to the water.



Netting in rivers is a serious offence as the impact on fish travelling up
and down rivers can be quite devastating. The illegal use of this equipment
undermines Fisheries Victoria's management of the fishery and is a theft of
the resource.



Anyone who sees or suspects illegal fishing activity is urged to call the
24-hour reporting line

13 FISH (13 3474).