Shellfish collection bust – Sydney Harbour

NSW DPI Fisheries Officers seized over 350 cockles from 5 people apprehended at Bayview Park, Concord after collecting illegally in Hen and Chicken Bay. Fisheries Officers were conducting surveillance in the area and identified a number of people in and along the waters edge of the bay actively collecting cockles.

It is a reminder to the public that Sydney Harbour (Port Jackson) and all of its tributaries are closed to the taking of any species of shellfish (eg. pipis, cockles, mussels, snails, whelks, oysters and abalone).

In a separate incident on the same day, Fisheries Officers apprehended 2 people who had collected and shucked 31 Turban snails in Long Reef Aquatic Reserve.

Long Reef Aquatic Reserve is the oldest aquatic reserve in NSW and has been set aside for the protection of marine invertebrates and plants for more than 30 years. Line fishing and spearfishing for finfish is permitted. All other forms of fishing are prohibited, including collecting of marine vegetation and invertebrates whether dead or alive.

To report illegal fishing activity in NSW call Fishers Watch on 1800 043 536 or report it online at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/…/com…/report-illegal-activity.