Fishery officers based in Wellington have found and confiscated one of the biggest hauls of illegally harvested pāua in recent times, says Fisheries New Zealand regional manager Phil Tasker.
"While inspecting a vessel shortly after it landed at Titahi Bay on Tuesday afternoon, fishery officers discovered 1,863 pāua, which had already been shucked. This is a huge haul of pāua, and the 2 men in possession of the shellfish are likely to face charges under the Fisheries Act," says Mr Tasker.
"There is a maximum daily limit of 5 pāua per fisher in this area, which gives some context to the scale of this offending, and the potential damage it could do to the pāua population.
"Offending on this scale is incredibly disappointing to see. This fishery is a shared resource, and the rules are there to protect its sustainability for everyone. Our message for those who think they can steal this shared resource is that we will pursue offending and there will be consequences."
"Most fishers go out there wanting to do the right thing and follow the rules. The best way to stay on top of the rules for the area you’re fishing or gathering shellfish in is to download the free NZ Fishing Rules mobile app," says Mr Tasker.
The estimated retail value of the pāua is approximately $25,000. The case is still under investigation.
MPI encourages people to report suspected illegal activity through the ministry's 0800 4 POACHER number (0800 47 62 24)
For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 00 83 33 or email info@mpi.govt.nz
For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.
One fifth of the pāua seized by fishery officers at Titahi Bay.
