Two men are facing jail terms and up to $200,000 in fines after more than a tonne of undersized fish was seized during a raid at the Sydney Fish Markets.
NSW Fisheries officers received a tip-off in February about a consignment of snapper, silver trevally and rubberlip morwong, Minister for Primary Industries Steve Whan said in a statement.
Nearly 90 per cent of the haul was deemed to be under the minimum length of 30cm each.
Fisheries officers searched a commercial fishing boat in Ulladulla, on the NSW south coast, where a number of documents and an illegal net were seized.
The boat's 42-year-old owner and another man, 39, are expected to face court on charges of catching and selling prohibited-sized fish, possessing prohibited gear and abusing or threatening a Fisheries officer.
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"Size limits are in place for all fishers in NSW to comply with, to protect the sustainability of the industry," Mr Whan said in a statement.
"This is especially true for those fishers who are given the privilege of selling the fish they catch.
"The seized fish were donated to Oz Harvest, which has distributed the 1000kg to various charities within the Sydney area including the Exodus Foundation, Aboriginal Housing and Newtown Mission. "
The large quantity of undersize fish seized was unable to be resold, and as such the decision was made to donate the fish to charity," Mr Whan said.
