A lobster fisherman has been fined over $5000 after Department of Fisheries officers found he had pulled more than six rock lobster puts off the coast of Jurien Bay that were not his own.
Earlier this year, a surveillance operation carried out by Fisheries and Marine Officers found a 48-year-old man had been interfering with a number of pots off Wire Reef.
![In WA, fishermen can only pull pots registered in their name- they can't do it for a friend.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170626200205im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/p/o/d/v/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gwxzyt.png/1498352138597.jpg)
He had continuously failed to identify his own lobster pots and floats, and fisheries officers observed him pull more than six rock lobster pots that were not his own onto his vessel.
He was intercepted by Fisheries and Marine officers when he returned to the Jurien Bay Marina, and his boat was searched.
Officers uncovered five Western rock lobsters which were not tail-clipped – a requirement for recreationally caught lobsters.
The man failed to appear in court on Wednesday, and was issued $4990 for a total of six offence. He was also ordered to pay court costs of $188.
His recreational fishing license was also suspended for 12 months.
Department of Fisheries compliance manager Mick Kelly said the 48-year-old's fine reinforced the department's message "that gear interference is not tolerated".
With AAP.