The department of Primary Industries has launched a crackdown on abalone poachers on the south coast.

Operation Maxima is targeting the entire South Coast from Wollongong down to the Victorian border and has seen hefty sentences handed down to two poachers in recent weeks.

A repeat poacher has been sentenced to twelve months jail and received fines and court costs of almost $17,000 after pleading guilty to the possession of 75 shucked abalone 

In a second case a commercial diver pleaded guilty to six offences, including possessing 27 prohibited sized abalone. 

He was hit with fines and court costs amounting to $18,000 

Supervising fisheries officer Mathew Richardson says teams of inspectors and police will be staking out known trouble spots up and down the coast