The two men allegedly busted for trafficking abalone appeared in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday, where they had their bail continued and their case adjourned.

The men - Aaron Brierley of Moruya and Keith Ronald Nye of Mogo - appeared before the court, supported by about 30 members of the Aboriginal community.

Mr Brierley is a high-profile local rugby league player, playing first grade for the Bay Tigers.

He was arrested and charged last week following a long-running operation targeting an illegal abalone trafficking ring.

Mr Nye and Mr Brierley were both charged with three counts of trafficking in an indictable species of fish.

It is alleged Mr Nye, 54, was caught trading abalone in a Batemans Bay carpark last Tuesday.

Mr Nye is also charged with two counts of driving while disqualified, while Mr Brierley, 27, has also been charged with two counts of supplying cannabis and driving while disqualified. He was arrested and charged in Moruya on the same day.

Their trafficking offences allegedly date back to December last year.

It is alleged Mr Brierley took, sold, received or possessed abalone on December 17 last year, in Batemans Bay, and in Moruya on December 22 and January 6.

It is also alleged his co-accused, Mr Nye, trafficked abalone on January 12 at Heathcote, north of Wollongong, at Liverpool on February 2 and in Batemans Bay on Tuesday last week.

His disqualified driving charges occurred on the same dates he was allegedly in Heathcote and Liverpool.

Police prosecutor Mark Chaplain said it was likely the case would be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution. The matter was adjourned to Batemans Bay Local Court on March 28.

If convicted, the men could face a maximum of 10 years in jail.