When Police stopped a car on a street in Collie in May of this year, the surprise discovery of 22 marron in a grey plastic shopping bag ultimately led to an investigation by Fisheries and Marine officers and a court case this month.
On Wednesday 21 September, 50 year-old John William Kennard from Midvale pleaded guilty in the Collie Court to joint possession of the marron found in the car.
The co-accused, Jeremy Troy Cain (aged 40) from Collie, did not attend court but was found guilty of possession of marron in a non-possession period.
Both men were ordered by the sentencing Magistrate to each pay a fine of $500, plus a mandatory additional penalty of $1,100 each for the 22 marron involved in the offence and court costs of $169.10 each.
The court heard that both Cain and Kennard had jointly assisted in the capture of the marron, which had been taken from Wellington Dam.
Acting Compliance Manager, South, for the Department of Fisheries Steve Embling said the outcome of the case and the hefty cost of the offence ($1769.10 for each person) reflected the seriousness of unlawfully possessing marron out of season.
“The recreational marron fishing season extends from midday 8 January until midday 5 February, each year, and is only open for these few weeks to allow WA’s unique marron stock to be sustained,” he said.
“Over-fishing of the wild marron stocks, including fishing outside of the permitted season, can have a detrimental impact on their sustainability.”
Mr Embling said Fisheries officers conducted patrols of marron Waters, both within the season and year round and offenders faced potential prosecution and even the seizure of fishing gear.
“In this case, the Magistrate ordered that a seized scoop net belonging to one of the offenders be forfeited to the court,” he said.
“We also work closely with WA Police in the South West in detecting people who illegally fish for marron, or are unlawfully in possession of marron.”
Anyone who has information on illegal fishing activities, or any known unlawful trade of marron, is asked to call theFishWatch reporting line 1800 815 507.