Australia cracks down on illegal seafood sales — ABC News Australia
In Australia, fisheries authorities are stepping up efforts against the illegal catching and sale of seafood: conducting raids, imposing fines and destroying boats used in violations. In Queensland, a 43-year-old man was detained for illegally catching mud crabs in waters between Brisbane and Russell Island and selling them in the state’s southeast.
The man was found guilty, fined 10,000 Australian dollars, and his boat was destroyed. During a search of his home last year, inspectors also found other types of seafood, including threadfin salmon, shellfish and mulloway. In 2024, a 46-year-old Gold Coast resident was caught concealing crabs in a boat. After searching his property, officials found additional boxes of crabs, and the vessel was also crushed.
Raids and court cases
According to Graham Bolton, director-general of Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries, the retail price of quality mud crabs can reach 64 Australian dollars per kilogram. He noted that their high value makes them easy to transport and sell on the black market. Bolton said the destruction of boats is intended to demonstrate the inevitability of punishment for illegal activity in Queensland.
According to ABC News Australia, 1,809 reports of illegal fishing were investigated in Queensland in 2024–2025, while 14 cases were heard in the Magistrates Court. In Western Australia, 273 people were held accountable for illegal fishing in 2025, more than three times as many as a year earlier. In the Northern Territory, the Darwin Local Court heard cases involving 237 foreign fishers during 2024–2025.
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Illegal fishing includes catching fish in marine reserves, exceeding quotas, using prohibited fishing gear and international smuggling. According to the source’s estimate, such activity threatens marine ecosystems and causes losses of up to 23 billion dollars annually to legal fisheries worldwide.
Inspections of seafood sales
New South Wales fisheries inspectors conducted an operation in Cabramatta in southwest Sydney after receiving information about the possible sale of illegally caught seafood. In one household goods store, they found 14 packages of improperly labelled abalone. The owner provided receipts confirming the legal purchase of the goods, but authorities are continuing their investigation.
The seized abalone is estimated to be worth about 4,000 Australian dollars. If law enforcement determines that it was illegally caught and sold, the owner could face imprisonment. Last week, New South Wales introduced legislative changes providing for fines of up to 44,000 Australian dollars for involvement in illegal seafood trade. Authorities are also investing in technology to track offenders, including night-vision equipment.
A study conducted in Western Australia in 2023 found that about 11.8% of seafood in Australia was incorrectly labelled. According to industry representatives, incorrect labelling may indicate the illegal origin of products and create health risks for consumers.
