On Monday 4 February, Zane Tiger Panton of Launceston appeared in the Launceston Magistrates Court. He was charged with five offences under the Inland Fisheries Act 1995 including:

• Take acclimatised fish without angling licence.
• Possess assembled rod and line without angling licence.
• Hinder officer by not giving correct name and address details.
• Two counts of abuse officer.

These charges related to events in May last year at Brushy Lagoon. Mr Panton was fishing without a licence. When we asked him for his name and address he failed to provide them. This is something you must do if asked by our Officers when fishing in inland waters.

He was also abusive to our Officer. This is something we, and the Courts, do not tolerate.

Mr Panton was fined $600 and ordered to pay $83.74 in Court Costs.