As the 2024 festive season approaches, authorities are intensifying efforts to tackle illegal seafood sales across NSW.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and NSW Police have again joined forces for Operation Trident, a statewide initiative aimed at protecting consumers and ensuring the safety and sustainability of seafood.
NSW DPIRD Deputy Secretary Fisheries and Forestry, Sean Sloan, said fisheries officers will be conducting a targeted crackdown on the illegal sale of seafood, particularly during the peak holiday period.
"The holiday season sees a significant rise in seafood consumption, but unfortunately, it also leads to an increase in illegal seafood trading", Mr Sloan said.
"Operation Trident, now in its 17th consecutive year, is designed to combat the illegal harvesting and trade of seafood across NSW, especially as demand for oysters and other seafood soars during Christmas and New Year.
"The joint operation involves both covert and overt patrols, in order to disrupt the black-market trade, prevent oyster theft, and protect consumers from potentially unsafe or illegal produce.
"The penalties for involvement in the black-market seafood trade are severe, with fines of up to $275,000 and possible imprisonment for both sellers and buyers."
Acting Executive Director Biosecurity & Food Safety, Dr Lisa Szabo, said it is important that the seafood that lands on NSW plates this Christmas is safe, lawfully obtained and sustainably harvested.
"NSW is renowned for its fresh, healthy, and sustainable seafood, however the illegal oyster trade poses serious health risks to consumers", Dr Szabo said.
"Stolen oysters, in particular, may not meet health and safety standards and could come from areas outside the NSW Shellfish Program, which monitors the safety of shellfish.
"The NSW Food Authority strongly urges the public to avoid purchasing seafood from untrusted
sources this festive season and only purchase oysters from reputable retailers."
NSW Police, State Rural Crime Coordinator, Detective Chief Inspector Cameron Whiteside said historically we have seen an increase in oyster thefts in the lead up to the holiday period, which is concerning both from a crime and a public health perspective.
"Rural Crime Investigators are undertaking operations across NSW, in order to to detect and deter oyster theft and protect consumers against potentially unsafe black-market produce", Mr Whiteside said.
"Oyster theft is a serious crime that NSW Police and the Rural Crime Preventation team take very seriously.
"We encourage the community to report any suspected thefts or illegal activity so that we can investigate and take action swiftly."
The public are urged to report illegal or suspected illegal fishing activities to the Fishers Watch Phoneline on 1800 043 536 or via the online report form here.
Anyone with information on marine-related crimes should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: www.police.nsw.gov.au.
