Fisheries Prosecutions Roundup

Not following the rules for gathering shellfish has cost some recreational fishers thousands of dollars in fines.

“There are consequences for failing to follow fishery rules and for some people, it will hurt their wallet. Our job is to protect fishing resources so that everyone can enjoy the opportunity to put fresh kaimoana on the dinner the table,” says Fisheries New Zealand Director of Fisheries Compliance, Steve Ham.

Over the past two months, a 42-year-old Auckland man was fined $800 in the Manukau District Court for being in possession of 711 cockles. The man was stopped in November last year by an Honorary Fishery Officer at Eastern Beach. There are around 20 signs along the Eastern Beach area in several languages warning fishers that the area is closed to gathering cockles.

A 43-year-old Timaru man was fined $2,000 in the Timaru District Court for being in possession of eight times the daily legal pāua allowance, which he took from Mutu Mutu Point. The man was stopped by a Fishery Officer in November last year and had 24 undersize pāua. Mutu Mutu Point is protected under the Tuhawaiki Mātaitai Reserve and the daily limit is three pāua per person, with a minimum size of 125mm.

A 67-year-old Auckland man was fined $1,125 in the Papakura District Court for being in possession of over three times the daily limit for rock oysters. The man was stopped by Fishery Officers in November last year at Maraetai Beach. He had 364 rock oysters of which 100 had been shucked with the shells left attached to the rocks. It’s also an offence to leave the shells attached to rocks because it prohibits the growth of new oysters. The daily limit for rock oyster gathering in the area is 100 per person a day.

A 47-year-old Hastings man was fined $1,700 in the Hastings District Court for being in possession of 42 pāua. The man’s catch was inspected by Fishery Officers in September last year at Pourerere beach. 35 of the pāua were undersize. The daily limit for pāua is five per person with a minimum size of 125mm.

A 48-year-old Wellington man was ordered to do 80 hours community work for breaching a three-year fishing ban. The man was sentenced in the Wellington District Court. In July 2023, he was caught fishing and had two kahawai and a barracuda. He had been banned from fishing for three years in May 2022 following previous convictions for fisheries offences.

A 31-year-old Auckland man and a 31-year-old Auckland woman were each fined $500 in the Manukau District Court for taking 316 cockles from Eastern Beach. The couple were gathering in October last year at the beach that is closed to gathering cockles all year round. There are about 20 signs advising this closure in the area.

A 71-year-old Northland man was placed on two months community detention and prohibited from fishing for three years, when sentenced on four charges under the Fisheries Act in the Kaikohe District Court. The man had two previous fisheries convictions which is why he was banned from fishing. He was stopped by Fishery Officers in August 2021 in waters off Russell with 58 crayfish of which 45 were undersize. The daily limit for crayfish at the time of offending was six per person.

Four recreational fishers from the Bay of Plenty, aged between 30 and 37 were each fined $750 in the Tauranga District Court for taking 2,878 pipis or 719 per person. The daily limit is 150 per person and the group had their catch inspected at Sulphur Point boat ramp in Tauranga by Fishery Officers in October last year.

And a 49-year-old Wellington man was fined $1500 for being in possession of 22 undersize pāua. The man had a total of 24 pāua when he was stopped and inspected at Moa Point by a Fishery Officer in November 2023. He was fined a further $500 for having nearly five times the daily limit. The daily allowance is five per person with a minimum size of 125mm.

“If you’re unsure of the fishing rules in the area you plan to fish – get the most up-to-date fishing rules by downloading the free NZ Fishing Rules mobile app. It will also work if you’re fishing in an area with limited mobile coverage,” says Fisheries New Zealand Director of Fisheries Compliance Steve Ham.

Fisheries New Zealand encourages people to report any suspected illegal fishing activity through the Ministry for Primary Industries’ 0800 4 POACHER line (0800 47 62 24).

- Fisheries New Zealand