A man caught with more than 40 undersized crabs in Mandurah earlier this year was fined $2350 on Tuesday in Mandurah Magistrates Court.
Donald William Hayward, 72, pleaded guilty to possession of a totally protected fish after he was caught by Fisheries in Herron on January 15.
The court heard Hayward was with his nephew, scooping for crabs, when the pair was apprehended by a Fisheries officer.
The officer seized an esky belonging to the pair which contained 64 crabs, 41 of which undersize.
The smallest of the crabs was just 113.9mm, while the minimum legal length is 127mm.
The crabs were returned to the water.
Counsel for Hayward said her client had no gauge, but had planned to measure his catch on shore.
Magistrate Leanne Atkins said there was a “great need for general deterrents”.
“People like you cause problems for the crabs,” she said.
“There will be none left if people like you keep taking undersized crabs.”
