A professional fisherman caught with an illegal rock lobster catch has been fined almost $40,000 and has had his fishing boat confiscated.
The 28-year-old Coffs Harbour man was caught with 77 eastern rock lobsters at Wooli in December last year.
He pleaded guilty in Grafton Local Court to more than 30 charges as fisheries officials presented photographs taken at the scene of the offence.
Another Coffs Harbour man, who drove the pick-up vehicle, also pleaded guilty and was fined $5,500.
The boat owner’s sentence was one of the heaviest penalties for a fisheries offence in New South Wales.
