Self-proclaimed ‘prince of the Abrolhos’ faces trial after allegedly ignoring fisheries laws

A man who proclaimed himself the “prince of the Abrolhos” has appeared in court for the first day of his trial, accusing of travelling to the protected zone of islands, using its jetties, ignoring fishery officer orders and breaching several restraining orders. Kristin Rodney Donald MacDonald appeared on Monday, self-represented, in Geraldton Magistrates Court facing 46 charges from alleged offences in 2021. Mr MacDonald is alleged to have travelled to the Abrolhos Island Fish Habitat Protection area and used jetties on the islands without notifying authorities five times between May 10 and July 9, 2021. He is also charged with ignoring orders by compliance officers telling him to leave the area. After his licence is said to have ceased, Mr MacDonald allegedly conducted a fishing tour from July 9 to 12, again without seeking permission from authorities. Mr MacDonald was ordered by fisheries authorities not to move his boat from Geraldton, and is facing 19 charges of breaching restraining orders as well as five of trespassing. In one incident, Mr MacDonald allegedly refused to give his phone to a fisheries officer who believed the phone contained evidence, until he was forced to hand it over by a police officer. Body-camera footage from a fisheries officer who delivered an order prohibiting Mr MacDonald from taking his boat out of Geraldton showed Mr MacDonald say he didn’t “consent” to the officer’s order, throwing the paper into the ocean. Mr MacDonald’s trial continues this week.