Almost 6000 illegally taken abalone were seized by Department of Primary Industry fisheries officers in 2017.
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Bega MP Andrew Constance said the state government has “stepped up efforts on illegal abalone fishing and black marketing of the lucrative product”.
“Fines up to $32,000 have been issued by the courts and five individuals have received suspended prison sentences,” Mr Constance said.
“Not only are illegal abalone divers under the microscope, the NSW Government is penetrating the point of sale and dismantling the black market too.”
His comments came in response to two restaurant owners from Sydney who both received large fines and prison sentences.
In December two men were found in the Batemans Marine Park with almost 60 kilograms of allegedly illegally taken abalone.
