Police were called after an honorary fishery officer was attacked while patrolling Cockle Bay yesterday.
The officer was checking that gatherers were keeping to their daily legal entitlement at the beach in the Eastern suburbs when he was assaulted by a person collecting cockles.
The daily legal entitlement for cockles is 50 per gatherer per day.
"It appears that one of our honorary fishery officers who was on a regular patrol at Cockle Bay yesterday, allegedly had mud thrown in his face by a person collecting cockles," a Ministry of Primary Industries spokeswoman said.
"He then called two other fulltime fishery officers who then attended the scene. Police were also called and attended the scene."
The spokeswoman said there were no injuries and the ministry had not pressed charges.
Local resident Peter McAndrew, 60, who witnessed the incident, said the officer was distraught.
"He was an older gentleman, and said that at his age, he shouldn't have to take this sort of thing," McAndrew said.
An honorary fishery officer is a uniformed volunteer trained to assist with education and compliance around fisheries regulations.
McAndrew said the officers also blocked the road after the incident, stopping people from leaving until the police arrived.