Hefty penalties landed for illegal abalone take

Three abalone traffickers have been convicted and ordered to pay more than $35,000 in penalties for possessing more than five times the daily allowable bag limit of abalone.

The two men and a woman, all from Adelaide, were found guilty in the Adelaide Magistrates Court earlier this month of possessing and trafficking a commercial quantity of a priority species involving 80 Greenlip and Blacklip abalone weighing more than 35 kilograms. Fisheries Officers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) apprehended the trio at Kimba in February 2025 in collaboration with South Australian Police and following information from the public.

Subsequent investigations revealed evidence of prior offending, including recreational sales of abalone. One of the defendants was also found to have breached a previously imposed Court Order on multiple occasions, banning any involvement in abalone fishing.

Each defendant was convicted and ordered to pay a total in excess of $10,000 in fines, penalties and costs, along with forfeiture of the seized catch and fishing equipment. One defendant, who already held a conviction from previous abalone related offences was further banned from undertaking any abalone related fishing for 10 years. The other two defendants received a five-year prohibition from abalone-related fishing.

In South Australia, abalone are subject to a daily bag limit of 5 per person and a combined boat limit of 10, except in Gulf St Vincent which is currently 3 per person and a boat limit of 5 whilst recovering from the impacts of the algal bloom. Unlawfully exceeding these limits, aimed at protecting fish stocks and supporting the long-term sustainability of South Australia’s fisheries, can attract heavy penalties, including fines of up to $50,000 or four years in jail. In this case one defendant also received a suspended term of imprisonment.

Fishers are reminded they are responsible for knowing and observing fishing rules, closures and catch limits, with information available via the free SA Recreational Fishing App and PIRSA’s recreational fishing.

Illegal or suspicious fishing activity can be reported via the SA Fishing App which can be downloaded to any smart device, or by calling the 24-hour Fishwatch number on 1800 065 522.