AT $200 a pop, getting a crab pot stolen is a big deal.
Just ask local commercial fisherman Bruce Tatham.
He’s lost seven since the start of December.
But it’s not just him suffering at the hands of what he calls “common thieves”.
The local fishing industry is nearing crisis point with thousands of dollars worth of professional gear being knocked off over the past month.
“Lots of us are at our wits end,” Mr Tatham, who is also the secretary of the Mandurah Licensed Fishermen’s Association (MLFA), said.
“Every one of us has had pots stolen, vandalised or interfered with.
“It’s impacting on our livelihoods.”
In the worst season yet for local commercial fishing thefts Mr Tatham said up to 40 crab pots had been stolen from people who make their living on the water.
And when the pots aren’t being pinched, they’re being emptied of their catch before the rightful owners pull them.
“I had 12 pots emptied on Saturday morning,” Mr Tatham said.
“We get interference on an almost daily basis.”
Fisheries Department compliance manager for the south metropolitan area John Breeden warned anyone interfering with or stealing equipment would be immediately prosecuted.
“Fisheries and Marine officers (FMOs) in Mandurah consider this to be an extremely serious offence which impacts heavily on both commercial and recreational fishers,” he said.
“Mandurah FMOs have a good rapport with local commefcial fishers and they are reporting these instances of interference with crab pots to us.
“It is not possible for FMOs to keep fishing gear under continuous surveillance so we ask anyone with evidence of this sort of activity to call Fishwatch on 1800 815 507.
“A lot of this offending is opportunistic and often carried out under cover of darkness, so the more eyes we have keeping watch … the better chance we will have of catching offenders.”
Mr Breeden said a man had been charged earlier this month for allegedly interfering with commercial crabbing gear.
He is due to face court in March.
But with offences happening on an almost daily basis, local fishers are certain there is more than one person to blame.
Anyone caught interfering with a commercial fishing operation faces a potential fine of up to $25,000 and 12 months in jail.
It’s a penalty Mr Tatham said should be handed down more often.
“All we need is a magistrate to support the Department,” he said.
“When we get [offenders] to court they’re not really being punished.
“They should be fined the full amount and spend a couple of days in jail just to deter them.
“We can’t knock Fisheries; they’ve got so much to do.
“But enough is enough.”
