Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
Skipper fined over fur seal deaths
Media release
9 March 2010
Download PDF
The federal environment department has welcomed a court decision to impose a significant fine on a Perth man for killing 11 threatened fur seals.
Dennis Whennen, 44, who pleaded guilty for killing 11 Australian fur seals while trawl fishing off Tasmania, has been fined $5000.
Federal environment department spokeswoman Rose Webb said this was the largest penalty imposed for such an offence under national environment law.
“The magistrate took a very serious view of the case. This fine shows that people who don’t comply with our wildlife protection laws will be dealt with seriously,” Ms Webb said.
“Australian fur seals were killed for their skins in the last century, which decimated their population. As a result, they are protected under national environment law.
“These laws are in place to protect Australia’s wildlife and to prevent reckless actions, such as these trawling practices, leading to unnecessary deaths. The magistrate took into account that the defendant was no longer in the trawling business, so did not impose a jail term. The maximum penalty for this offence was 12 months jail or a $6600 fine, or both.
Whennan was charged with taking an action that led to the death of a listed marine species while in Commonwealth waters, under section 254 (1) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Media contacts
Public Affairs
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
Phone: +61 2 6275 9248
Fax: +61 2 6274 1094
public.affairs@
environment.gov.au
Before you download
Some documents are available as PDF files. You will need a PDF reader to view PDF files.
List of PDF readers
If you are unable to access a publication, please contact us to organise a suitable alternative format.
Key
Links to another web site
Opens a pop-up window