Fisheries officers have seized 94 illegally-taken abalone from a Deer Park trio at Portarlington, according to authorities
Seventy-nine of the shellfish were undersize, Fisheries Victoria said.
The alleged poachers also had 30 sea urchins and as many other molluscs illegally taken from an intertidal zone, Fisheries Victoria said.
“A significant number of the abalone were damaged during their collection because a screwdriver had been used to (pry) them from the rocks.
“Consequently, fisheries officers suspect many that were returned to the water will not survive.”
The officers charged the trio with offences including taking undersized abalone, exceeding the catch limit and taking them during a closed season.
Two women aged 40 and 50 would be summonsed to appear in magistrates court and the man, 42, would be fined $1365 for “lesser offences”, Fisheries said.
Strict rules govern the taking of abalone, which can command high prices on black markets. Gatherers can take them only on specified days, mostly restricted to weekends, with a catch limit of two abalone each and minimum sizes depending on the species and the location in which they were taken.
Only specialised tools with broad, flat noses can be used for dislodging abalone to reduce chances of damaging them.
