A commercial fisher was fined $8000 plus $250 costs on fishing-related charges in the Cleveland Magistrates Court last week.
The man pleaded guilty to three charges of wilfully entering and using the Moreton Bay Marine Park for a prohibited purpose, namely fishing, on 10 September 2023.
Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers using electronic vessel monitoring equipment subsequently identified that the fisher was near North Stradbroke Island and an investigation identified that fishing had occurred in the marine park.
A Department of Environment, Science and Innovation spokesperson said the Moreton Bay Marine Park contained internationally significant wetlands and seagrass meadows and was habitat to a number of significant land and water species.
All forms of fishing are prohibited in Marine National Park Zones within the marine park and significant penalties can apply, including a maximum fine of $464,400 for an individual.
All users of the marine park should ensure that they comply with the law at all times.
General information on the Moreton Bay Marine Park and the park’s zones is available online.
