Boaters and fishers across Queensland are being warned not to touch other peoples’ crab pots, after a Cairns fisher was fined $12,000 for multiple offences, including interfering with pots that weren’t his.
Between May and July 2024, the Department of Primary Industries’ Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) officers collected evidence of a fisher interfering with crab pots that didn’t belong to him.
Upon further investigation at the man’s property, QBFP officers also found the man to be in possession of the rostrum of a sawfish – a regulated and protected species in Queensland – and commercial gill nets without the required authority.
The man was later charged in court with 1 count of possessing a regulated fish, 6 counts of unlawful interference with fishing apparatus and 3 counts of failing to comply with a regulated fishing apparatus declaration.
During the investigation, the court forfeited the seized boat to the state and due to its condition, the boat will be destroyed.
QBFP Manager Gregory Bowness said this prosecution should serve as a reminder to all Queenslanders that interference with crab pots was a serious matter.
“This man’s poor decision to touch and interfere with other people’s crab pots has cost him $12,000 and his boat,” Mr Bowness said.
“Interfering with crab pots that don’t belong to you is a serious offence under the Fisheries Act 1994. This includes pulling a pot out of the water – even if you do not remove any crabs.
“These are serious offences, and I hope this prosecution outcome will serve as the $12,000 reminder to all Queenslanders to make the lawful choices in and around our waterways.
“These laws exist so all Queenslanders can enjoy boating and fishing in our great state, and we’d like to thank the vast majority of fishers who do the right thing.”
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Email media@dpi.qld.gov.au
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Last updated: 24 Jul 2025