A man who threatened a NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) fisheries officer and obstructed their duties at Depot Beach in 2018 was punished with multiple convictions and nearly $5000 in fines at the Batemans Bay local court.
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NSW DPI Director Fisheries Compliance, Dr Andrew Moriarty, said serious offences such as what happened at Depot beach would not be tolerated and would be dealt with accordingly by authorities.
"The man was convicted of four offences and fined a total $4500 dollars plus a 12-month community corrections order," Dr Moriarty said.
"Threatening a fisheries officer and preventing them from completing their duties is a serious offence and we will not tolerate this type of behaviour."
The man was convicted and fined for the following offences on May 27:
- Obstructing a Fisheries Officer in the exercising of function - failing to allow examination of fishing gear (Sequence 1) - fined $2,000.
- Threatening a Fisheries Officer - with a weapon, being an axe handle with a metal spike on the end (Sequence 2) - convicted and imposed a community corrections order for 12 months.
- Obstruction of a Fisheries Officer in the exercising of function - failing to allow seizure of a weapon used to threaten a Fisheries Officer (Sequence 3); and
- Failing to comply with requirement to provide information - fail to state name and address (Sequence 4) - fined $500.
Dr Moriarty said the conviction sent a strong warning to anyone behaving violently or threateningly towards fisheries officers.
"There are hefty penalties for these actions and the man will now face the consequences for his actions," he said.
"If any illegal or threatening behaviour is witnessed, the public are urged to contact their local police."
The public are encouraged to report illegal fishing activity to the NSW Fishers Hotline on 1800 043 536 or via the online Report Illegal Activity Form.
