A South Auckland man lost his car, was banned from fishing for nine months and fined $4500 for a second conviction for selling his recreational catch.
Dallas Tai Williams, 32, was sentenced in Manukau District Court yesterday (3 July, 2014) after earlier pleading guilty to charges of selling his recreational catch of kina from his car at the Mt Richmond shops in Mt Wellington in October 2013.
This was his second conviction for selling his recreational catch. He had previously been fined $3250 and lost his diving gear after being convicted of selling his recreational catch of rock lobster from his car at the same car park in March 2012.
Ministry for Primary Industries Compliance Officer Matt Wogan says: “It’s extremely disappointing to see this type of repeat offending. You would hope that people would learn the lesson after being caught and convicted the first time.”
The Fisheries Act is set up to deal with this type of repeat offending and the consequence can be quite harsh. A person who has been convicted of two serious fisheries offences within a seven year period can be banned from all fishing for up to three years.
The sale of recreationally caught fish, or shell fish, is illegal and can hold a sentence of up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000.
“The Ministry for Primary Industries is extremely interested in receiving any information with regard to the sale of recreational catch,” says Mr Wogan.
“We rely on the public to help protect their fisheries and encourage people to report any suspicious fishing, buying or selling to 0800 4 POACHER (0800 476 224). All calls are confidential.”