Fisheries officers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) apprehended the alleged traffickers at Kimba last month following a collaboration with South Australian Police at Port Kenny on the state’s west coast.
On Sunday 19 January at 2.15pm, a car that was suspected of being associated with abalone trafficking was spotted at Kimba and stopped by police.
Fisheries officers attended and found 80 large abalone, weighing more than 35kg in the boot of the vehicle.
The abalone, along with an assortment of diving equipment, storage containers and mobile phones were seized pending further investigation of the matter.
The two men and a woman, from Adelaide, are expected to be charged with possessing and trafficking a commercial quantity of a priority species and will appear in court at a later date.
In South Australia, abalone is identified as a high value, priority species, with a maximum daily bag limit of five per person, and a combined boat limit of 10.
Unlawfully exceeding these limits can attract heavy penalties, and in the most serious of instances, offenders face fines of up to $50,000 or four years in jail.
Acting Director of Operations Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Department for Primary Industries and Regions Matt Read said the catch limits on abalone were in place to ensure sustainability of the species.
"These management arrangements are put in place to support the stock status of the species and to support abalone populations in South Australian waters," Mr Read said.
"This sort of behaviour is not only illegal but represents a more serious scale of offending and undermines the good work being done in this space to ensure sustainability of the species.
"Fisheries Officers are stationed across South Australia and patrol our coastal waters constantly ensuring compliance and awareness of fisheries regulations. This type of offending will not go undetected."
Illegal or suspicious fishing activity can be reported via the Recreational Fishing Smartphone App or by calling the 24-hour Fishwatch number on 1800 065 522.
