Two men are facing up to 10 years in prison each after they were allegedly caught on NSW's south coast with a total of 424 abalone destined for the black market.
In the first case, a 38-year-old man from Ulladulla was discovered with 222 abalone near Bawley Point.
He's accused of trying to dump the abalone back into the sea when approached by fisheries officers.
The man has been charged with trafficking abalone, threatening and obstructing fisheries officers, possession of more than the recreational possession limit and shucking abalone.
In a separate incident, a 40-year-old man from Sanctuary Point was spotted diving on O'Hara Island south of Pretty Beach, also on the NSW south coast.
He was caught as he returned to his car and allegedly discovered to have 202 abalone him.
He's been charged with trafficking abalone, possession of prohibited size fish, possessing more than the recreational possession limit and possessing shucked abalone.
Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson said both men were discovered separately in the Kioloa area, south of Ulladulla, during Operation Enamel.
"They are now facing face maximum fines of up to $88,000 and/or 10 years imprisonment," she said on Monday.
In NSW, the amount of abalone is limited to two per person, with the minimum legal size for abalone 117 millimetres.
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