There are concerns about dwindling fish populations in the Port Stephens Marine Park despite a ban on fishing.
It comes after the results of a covert monitoring operation found more than 2300 snapper have been caught illegally by recreational fishers in the so-called 'no take' zone in the 12 months to April 2018.
More than 100 vessels were observed in the no fishing zone during the period by a surveillance camera installed in the Seal Rocks lighthouse.
It's estimated the snapper population has declined by more than 50 percent in the past six years due to illegal fishing in the marine park.
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| Picture: Port Stephens Examiner |
