This article was first published by Stuff.
A group have allegedly been caught with 460 pāua taken outside the recreational pāua season after refusing to allow fisheries officers to inspect their catch.
Confronted by fisheries officers on Monday, on the south coast of Kaikōura, one of the three divers attempted to intimidate the officers, Fisheries New Zealand district manager for Marlborough and Canterbury Stuart Moore said.
“Our fishery officers responded to a call on our poacher phone line,” Moore said.
“To make matters worse, the three divers refused to allow us to inspect their catch. One of the three had a knife on his belt, placed his hand on it and said they were leaving with the pāua.
“Our fishery officers work hard to protect our shared fisheries and will not be intimidated by this sort of behaviour.”
The fishery officers worked with police to stop vehicles in Amberley with a total of 460 pāua inside. Many were undersized, Moore said.
“Their vehicles, dive gear and all pāua were seized and serious charges are likely under the Fisheries Act.
“The community has zero tolerance for poaching and neither do we. We’re grateful to our colleagues at police for their backup and support. The rules are there for a reason and when we find evidence of them being broken – we take action.”
The dates of the next pāua season had not yet been announced. This year it was between April 22 and June 21.
MPI encouraged people to report suspected illegal activity through the ministry’s 0800 4 POACHER number (0800 47 62 24).
- Marlborough Express
