Five men jointly charged with a massive haul of undersized crabs have been convicted in Mandurah Magistrates Court and fined heavily.
Biak Za Hmung, Pa Hniang Pa Uk, Van Biak Thong Sam Cin, Ni Ling Sarum and Ngun Hu Zaathang did not appear in court on Tuesday, but sent in endorsed pleas of guilty to a charge each faced of being in possession of a totally protected fish.
The court heard the men had been scooping for crabs in Coodanup on December 3, 2016, while Fisheries officers observed and photographed them from shore.
When the men returned to their vehicle about 9pm, officers conducted a search and found 183 blue manna crabs in the boot of their car.
Of these crabs, 182 were undersized, the smallest measuring just 88.9mm.
The minimum size for a legal crab catch is 127mm.
The crabs were seized and released by Fisheries officers.
Each offender was fined $9100 and ordered to each pay court costs of $188.
FURTHER CHARGES
Also convicted of undersized crab catches in Mandurah court on Tuesday was a trio who between them caught 123 crabs measuring under the legal limit.
Edzel Cubangbang Aguilar, Winefredo Abucejo Riveral and Teddy Lavitoria Yalung pleaded guilty to the offences which were uncovered on January 11 at Boggy Bay, West Pinjarra.
Aguilar was fined $2250, Riveral now owes $1550, and Yalung was fined $2350.
All must pay court costs of $188.
FINALLY
A Bunbury man caught with 55 undersized crabs was fined $2950 in Mandurah Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Shannon Collard was convicted on an endorsed guilty plea of the offence which happened at Island Point on December 9, 2016.
The court heard the smallest of Collard’s catch measured 97.8mm.
He was also ordered to pay court costs of $188.
