War On “Prawn Pirates” In New South Wales

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31230, 30 November 1966, Page 12

War On “Prawn Pirates” In New South Wales

(Special Crspdt. N.Z.P.A.)

SYDNEY, November 29.

“Prawn pirates” looking for easy pickings in the close waters of Tuggerah Lakes, about 60 miles north of Sydney, have been playing a running game of hide and seek with fisheries inspectors. The inspectors mounted a 24-hour guard on the lakes to prevent the pirate fishermen illegally trawling for prawns.

The fishermen, reported to be able to earn up to $lOOO (£N.Z.400) for a night’s prawning on Tuggerah Lakes, resorted to trying to bribe the district’s lone inspector, who called for reinforcements from Sydney. The inspector said the pirates offered him cash to turn a blind eye to their activities, and the added inducement of a “girl friend”

for the night and six bottles of beer.

Tuggerah Lakes, a wellknown scenic beauty spot, has been closed to trawling for many years, but high prawn prices in Sydney induced the fishermen to break the law.

They rigged up an elaborate lookout system to watch the inspector’s activities and enable up to 20 pirate boats to trawl in peace. The New South Wales Department of Fisheries in Sydney sent a special squad, armed with a fast truck, a portable speed boat, walkietalkie radio sets, and a caravan, to the area to catch the culprits.

Disguised as tourists, they camped on the lakeside and chased the pirates as soon as they began trawling.