A Tassie man has been found in possession of 16 illegal southern rock lobsters this week.
The man from George Town illegally caught the lobsters in Strahan on the West Coast and was caught by police during a vehicle interception in Westbury.
Police have fined the man $2,000 for illegally possessing the lobsters, one of which was found to be undersized.
According to recreational fishery rules, it is prohibited to possess more than 10 rock lobsters taken from the western region of Tasmania without a special license.
The daily limit for people with a license catching rock lobsters in this region is five.
Senior Constable Christopher Rockliff from Westbury Police emphasized the need for recreational fishers to be aware of changes in rules and regulations.
“Recreational fishers should review the new rules, which include different methods of tail clipping, increased size limits and reduced daily bag and total possessions limits in some areas.”
“The rules are reviewed in line with changing stock levels and penalties reflect the importance of protecting the fishery industry and ensuring sustainable fishing into the future.”
