Abalone, urchins and periwinkles taken at Portarlington

[fishingvic]

Media Release
Friday 13th February, 2015 | Media contact: Mel Curtis (03) 5561 9938
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Abalone, urchins and periwinkles taken at Portarlington

Information provided to the 13 FISH reporting line has led to two men being questioned by
Fisheries Victoria for allegedly taking a large numbers of abalone, urchins and periwinkles near
Portarlington.
Senior Fisheries Officer Dave Burgess said two men were intercepted in their vehicle, and
searched by fisheries officers on February 9 at Drysdale, after being observed at Steeles Rocks
near Portarlington.
“A member of the public was able to call the 13FISH line and provide accurate details to our
Fisheries Officers who were able to then intercept the alleged offenders, Mr Burgess said.
“They were allegedly found with 121 black lip abalone – most of which were undersize - 46 urchins,
398 periwnkles, five mussels, five dog welts and two sea cucumbers.”
Mr Burgess said the two men will be questioned in regard to their alleged involvement in a number
of offences, including exceeding the daily catch limit, taking undersize abalone, taking mollucs from
the intertidal zone, using the incorrect commercial equipment to take abalone and failing to carry
measuring devices.
“This incident was particularly disappointing as it will highly likely to have done damage to a small
and discreet reef complex,” Mr Burgess said.
Fisheries Victoria is currently taking part in Operation Trinity which is targeting intertidal offences,
he said.
“The intertidal zone is defined as the area starting on the beach at the maximum high water mark
to a point where the water is two metres deep at any time.
“All animals and plants that live in the intertidal zone are critical parts of the food chain.
“Removal of any invertebrate animals (animals without a back bone such as crustaceans,
molluscs, and sea urchins) from this zone may seem harmless, but it represents a loss of food for
other species, and is prohibited in Port Phillip Bay and restricted in all other Victorian Waters.”

Anybody who sees or suspects illegal fishing activity is urged to call the 24-hour fisheries offence
reporting line 13 FISH (13 3474).