A ST ALBANS man was last week sentenced to 13 months jail for abalone trafficking.

Phat Van Pham was sentenced to prison and ordered to forfeit his boat and fishing equipment after the hearing in the Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 14 July.

The court heard the 43-year-old had been subject to a court order relating to abalone offences in September 2004, banning him from possessing abalone or any commercial equipment within one kilometre of any marine or estuarine waters and from engaging in fishing activities relating to abalone.

Mr Pham pleaded not guilty to four charges of failing to comply with the court order on two nights in August and September 2008 at Avalon. Mr Pham, however, pleaded guilty in relation to a further four charges relating to the use of commercial abalone equipment, the taking of abalone and his failure to comply with the court order in place for another incident on 20 October 2008 in Mt Eliza. Fisheries officers had seen Mr Pham and another man abalone diving at night. He was found guilty of all charges and was ordered to pay costs of around $3000.

Fisheries Victoria Field Services director Mick Hodder said abalone was a highly valued species that must be protected. He encouraged anyone who witnessed or suspected illegal fishing activity to call the 24-hour reporting line on 13 FISH (13 34 74).

- Cimara Pearce