MORE ACCOLADES FOR FISHERIES' ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY

01/07/03: For the second year running the Department of Fisheries has scooped the major prize pool at the annual Lonnie Awards.

The Department was awarded three prizes at the annual awards presented by the WA division of the Institute of Public Administration Australia. It was one of only two agencies to win a gold Lonnie.
The awards recognise the effective communication of relevant and appropriate information from departments to their key stakeholders.

The Department once again took out the WS Lonnie Award for the best annual report by an organisation in the State public sector. The Department also won a gold award for distinguished achievement in accountability and the AJ Skinner Award.

Department of Fisheries Executive Director Peter Rogers said to receive the awards was a tremendous honour and reflected the professionalism and commitment of Department staff.
"During the past decade the Department of Fisheries has enhanced its management practices which have required a more efficient, transparent and accountable approach in its operations," Mr Rogers said.

"These qualities are an essential component of good governance these days and play an important role in the Department's ongoing commitment to community education and partnership by allowing the public to follow its policies, activities and achievements and see how their funds are spent.
"To be recognised two years running at such a high level for these qualities is a credit to all staff at the Department."

The Lonnie awards follow the Department's win of a prestigious Bronze Award at the Australian Reporting Awards in Melbourne recently, also for its transparency and accountability in corporate reporting.

Fisheries to 'fingerprint' sharks for protection

13 July 2003: A new approach is being developed by Department of Fisheries scientists to assist authorities control illegal trade in shark products.

Work will begin soon on a shark DNA database that will eventually provide authorities with evidence to assist in the prosecution of illegal shark fishers.

"The database essentially is DNA fingerprint of shark material against which unidentified samples will be tested," Department of Fisheries shark researcher Mr Rory McAuley said.

The Department is working with the WA Chemistry Centre to develop the database with $49,860 assistance from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.

Researchers will collect tissue samples from various sharks, including the protected great white and grey nurse shark, which will form the foundation of the database.

"Because most processing takes place at sea, identification of protected species and enforcement of fishing regulations can be difficult - so the database will be a valuable identification tool for use all fisheries including State and Commonwealth," Mr McAuley said.

It is believed that illegal trade exists in shark body parts from Australia's southern waters, particularly for the teeth and fins from the great white and grey nurse.

"Once species are identified by DNA testing, we will have a more accurate picture of how sharks are affected by illegal fishing," Mr McAuley said.

"The database will also improve the Department's assessment of fishery stocks and assist recovery plans for vulnerable and endangered species."

Fisheries scientists hope to develop a portable field DNA test-kit that could be used by fisheries and wildlife officers. The database project could also serve as a model for a national shark DNA database.

Court finds abalone fisher guilty of assault

16 July 2003: A Perth fisher has been convicted of assault and fined more than $4,000 for possession a large amount of prized abalone when he appeared in Joondalup Court this week.

On Monday, July 14 Van Son LUONG was found guilty of assaulting a Fisheries Officer and was convicted of having 44 Roe's Abalone in excess of the legal possession limit of 20.

LUONG (35) of Marangaroo Drive, Girrawheen, used a screwdriver in the assault that occurred at Marmion Beach on November 10, 2002. For the assault LUONG received a four-month prison sentence that was suspended for 12 months.

In addition he was fined $3,320 for possession of the undersize abalone and fined $738 costs.

Department of Fisheries Acting Director of Fisheries Management Services Mr Andrew Cribb described the convictions as a significant result for the Department.

"The penalties reflect the Department and community's view that taking more than one's share is a threat to our valuable marine resources," Mr Cribb said.

Fisheries Officers apprehended LUONG on Marmion Beach after he was seen disposing of his bag of abalone.

When the officers approached and questioned LUONG, he became aggressive and assaulted one officer with a screwdriver. Both officers said they were concerned for their safety and called police who then made the arrest.

In another recent case, two Yokine men face fines up to $27,500 each for allegedly possessing a large amount of undersize rock lobster found soon after the closure of the 2003 lobster season (June 30).

In the early hours of July 1 2003, Fisheries Officers apprehended the men with the undersize catch at a Department of Fisheries roadside checkpoint, it will be alleged.

"We will allege a total of 137 undersize Western rock lobster were found in the pair's vehicle after Fisheries Officers conducted a routine check in Wanneroo," Mr Cribb said.

Fisheries Officers will also allege that both men did not hold the required licence for rock lobster fishing.

"Abalone and rock lobster, apart from being prized delicacies, are valuable resources which are vulnerable from overfishing," Mr Cribb said.

"The Department will continue to protect the State's fisheries from those who flaunt the rules so that the wider community can enjoy fish now and in the future."

The maximum penalty for possession of a totally protected fish is $5,000 and the maximum penalty for fishing for rock lobster without a licence is $2,000.

Additional penalties apply for being in possession of a totally protected fish, which are $150 by number and $300 by weight.