A fisherman and his deckhand are in hot water after being caught with dozens of expensive eastern rock lobsters while at a fast-food restaurant in Newcastle.
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The two men had been under surveillance for some time before authorities discovered 40 of the valuable crustaceans - most of them cooked - in their refrigerated truck on February 23.
The vehicle and lobster were both seized.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries allege the fisherman, who has a commercial licence, is not endorsed to take lobsters.
It is considering laying charges against both men.
Only a set amount of lobster is allowed to be commercially caught in NSW, and only by endorsed fishers.
Individual lobsters must be tagged with numbered tags provided by the department if legally taken for sale.
Offences attract up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $88,000, as well as penalties of up to 10 times the market value of the fish could be slapped on their illegal catch.
NSW eastern rock lobsters are a premium product, a DPI spokesman said, and currently sell for around $99 a kilogram at the Sydney Fish Market.
The NSW DPI is cracking down on illegal fishing that they say threatens legitimate markets, economic development and social benefits to NSW.
A commercial fisherman is already serving a two year prison sentence for his role in an elaborate illegal fishing racket that also saw three others, a company and a seafood restaurant fined more than $2 million.
Australian Associated Press
