Charges Likely Over Illegal Eel Trapping
Newcastle Herald
Friday June 11, 2004
A BULAHDELAH man is facing several criminal charges after he was caught illegally trapping eels.
NSW Fisheries director-general Steve Dunn said a ``tip off" led authorities to the man who is alleged to have trapped eels twice in as many weeks.
Mr Dunn said the first offence took place on May 13 when the 54-year-old man was caught in possession of 37 eels on a private property on the Manning River.
``Following that incident, NSW Fisheries issued a media release requesting information about suspected eel poaching activities," Mr Dunn said.
``As a result, we received information from the public and on May 28, after a two-day surveillance operation, the man who had been previously apprehended by our officers on May 13 was again found using eel traps illegally.
``On this occasion, he was found in possession of 34 eels and four traps. He denied capturing 83 other eels, which were found nearby."
The eel traps and fishing boat were seized.
The man could be fined up to $11,000 or sentenced to three months' jail or both.
© 2004 Newcastle Herald