A 37-YEAR-OLD Portland man allegedly caught with far in excess of the legal abalone catch is facing a number of charges.
Fisheries officers intercepted the man as he came ashore after observing him diving for abalone in the Dutton Way area near Portland on December 28.
He was allegedly found with 93 greenlip abalone, for which the bag limit is two per person per day.
The permitted take of any species of abalone is a total of five per person per day, of which no more than two can be greenlip abalone. A number of the abalone were also under the 13cm size limit.
The fisheries officers seized the man’s diving gear and vehicle as well as the abalone.
He will be charged on summons with abalone trafficking, taking undersize abalone and fishing without a recreational fishing licence.
The maximum penalty for abalone trafficking is 10 years’ imprisonment.