Fisheries compliance acting director Tony Andrews said the arrest was a direct result of information provided by the public regarding suspicious diving activity in the vicinity of Brush Island.  

“When Fisheries officers checked the driver on his return to his vehicle, they allegedly found him to be in possession of 168 shucked abalone weighing almost 13 kilograms,” he said.  

The offender could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined up to $44,000 if the prosecution is successful.