FISHERIES Minister Tim Whetstone is disappointed compliance officers had to retrieve several lobster pots from the waters of Rivoli Bay on one day earlier this month.
Mr Whetstone said the annual closure of all recreational lobster fishing started at 6pm on May 31.
“Recreational fishers who have not removed pots from the water face fines and the loss of their pots,” Mr Whetstone said.
“Already 12 pots have been seized from South East waters and investigations are under way.
“The pots were found on June 6 by Primary Industries and Regions SA South East-based fisheries officers during a coastal patrol from Beachport to Southend.
“It is disappointing some recreational fishers do not take sustainability of the stock seriously and did not remove their pots before the closure.
“These closures protect the sustainability of the lobster fishery into the future.”
Local resident Heather Burdon told The South Eastern Times that she witnessed the patrol boat Canunda being towed into the Beachport recreational boat ramp on June 6 and launched.
“The four Fisheries officers were obviously out at sea looking for lobster pots that should have been retrieved before the end of the season on May 31,” Ms Burdon said.
“They did very well for a few hours work.
“I guess rough seas and pots that cannot be retrieved or found by their owners, are left out over winter, if not bought to shore by Fisheries.
“These pots and lines and floats may continue to catch and also sadly entangle sea creatures, so it was certainly great to see at least some being bought ashore.”
All recreational and professional lobster fishing is now banned in local waters for the coming four months.
