Man fined after threats to Fisheries Officer
Thursday 20 December, 2007

Mr Viet Quoc Nguyen (30) of Woodville North, Mr Duc T Mai (36) of Ingle Farm and Mr Vu Mai (32) of Pooraka were all charged with a number of offences including possessing a quantity of undersize fish.

Mr Nguyen was also charged with the more serious offence of hindering a Fisheries Officer and using abusive language to the officer.

Mr Nguyen was fined a total of $1190.70. Mr D Mai was fined $790.70 and Mr V Mai $302.80.

The charges resulted from Fisheries Officers responding to a call to the 24-hour Fishwatch hotline alleging illegal fishing activity at Harriet River near Vivonne Bay on Kangaroo Island.

Fisheries Officers attended the location where they saw two of the men fishing in Harriet River. A check of their catch revealed a small number of undersize bream.

When Fisheries Officers returned with the men to their nearby camp site, they located a further 33 undersize bream. This resulted in a third man also being charged.

As one of the Fisheries Officers was completing a seizure receipt for the fish and fishing equipment, Mr Nguyen lunged aggressively, taking possession of the receipt book and throwing it away, and at the same time, using threatening and abusive language towards the officer.

PIRSA Fisheries, Manager Compliance Services, Paul Tatarelli said the physical threats and abusive language resulted in one of the men receiving a substantially larger fine.

"Catching undersize fish in itself is an offence."

"But, there is a clear message to the fishing community that using threatening and abusive language to fisheries officers in the course of their duties is considered a serious offence and is not acceptable," Mr Tatarelli said.

Media Contact: Gary Darter, Acting Manager Compliance Operations, PIRSA Fisheries, Ph: 0408 805 477.