Travellers fined for attempting to smuggle ‘pest’ fish through Melbourne Airport

Two travellers have been fined $54,000 in a Federal Court ruling for attempting to smuggle 240 fish through Melbourne International Airport.

One man was initially fined $420 for attempting to smuggle 120 live ornamental fish into the country in December 2019.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry launched an investigation when the same man and a business partner made a second attempt to bring in live fish in January 2020.

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The fish are considered invasive species and were discovered packaged in fish bags placed in multiple cooler bags.

Biosecurity authorities said the travellers failed to declare the fish on their incoming passenger cards.

The Federal Court found both travellers guilty of contravening the Biosecurity Act in April 2024.

The man received a $37,000 penalty, while his business partner was fined $17,000.

The travellers will also be required to pay the Commonwealth’s legal costs.

The department said it was the first time civil penalties were issued under the Biosecurity Act.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said the judgement was a significant milestone and should act as a deterrent to all travellers.

“Some of the fish that were attempted to be smuggled into our country are considered pest species to Australia and they posed a huge risk to human, animal and plant health,” he said.

“Illegally imported live fish can also impact wild capture fisheries, our growing aquaculture industries and our environment and thereby, our economy.

“Illegally imported live fish can carry diseases and other organisms, or themselves can become a pest and threaten native species.

“Tough civil penalties apply to those who break the law, and all travellers should be aware that serious breaches of Australia’s biosecurity laws may result in civil penalty proceedings being brought against you”