Trent Brown and Jordan Garth: Fisheries charge two men for allegedly stealing 22 lobsters off Geraldton

Two men have been reeled into court after they were allegedly caught removing 22 rock lobsters from other people’s pots and putting them into their own off the coast of Drummond Cove. Trent Wayne Brown, 22, and Jordan Phillip Garth, 30, were due to appear in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Thursday on illegal fishing charges, but did not appear. Both men are charged with removing fish from gear that doesn’t belong to them and exceeding the boat possession limit by less than or equal to twice the possession limit. One of the men, Garth, endorsed guilty pleas in a letter to the court. The court was told about 9am on Tuesday, December 13, the accused were two nautical miles west of Drummond Cove pulling lobster pots. It is alleged two pots belonged to the men, while additional lobster pots did not. The court was told Mr Brown and Garth allegedly stole 22 lobsters from two pots and had a total of 24 on board, exceeding the boat limit by eight. It is alleged the accused men placed eight live lobsters into their own pots and collected them the next day. Mr Brown is also charged with providing false or misleading information to a Fisheries officer. A prosecutor representing the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development told the court Mr Brown told Fisheries officers the pots belonged to friends and he had permission to pull them. “Investigations had revealed he had no instructions to operate the pots,” she said. Garth endorsed a plea of guilty to the charges in a letter, which the court was told stated he thought the pots belonged to someone and had no intention of pulling pots that didn’t belong to him. Magistrate Angus Hockton said he was uncomfortable to accept the pleas as Garth’s letter was inconsistent and indicated he did not accept responsibility for his actions. Garth was convicted, while Mr Brown is yet to enter pleas for three charges. Both matters were adjourned until Thursday, January 4.