http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11703337

Yepp unfortunately a lot of recreational anglers break the rules. A higher percentage than those evil comms I'm betting. This has been in the news for at least a week.

It's wrong to call the people who do this recreational fishers.  They are operating commercially and selling what they take.  There is no way that amount was for personal use. They are just criminals stealing something and selling it.  They should be prosecuted as such, not under the same laws as someone who takes one too many fish or has a snapper that's 29cm instead of 30cm.

It's wrong to call the people who do this recreational fishers.  They are operating commercially and selling what they take.  There is no way that amount was for personal use. They are just criminals stealing something and selling it.  They should be prosecuted as such, not under the same laws as someone who takes one too many fish or has a snapper that's 29cm instead of 30cm.

 A thought I have had on the back of my mind for sometime.
Basically they are ILLEGAL UN LICENSED COMMERCIAL operators with such a quanity the intention is to sell
not rec fishers that have taken a few over the limit
Not rec fishers

Is there not something along these lines with illegal drug possession.. if over a certain amount its automatically possession for supply????
one changes from being a 'user' to a supplier ???

If applied to these illegal fishery operations they would on that basis change from a recreational to an illegal commercial operation

Yep your right there Craig.If not stealing seafood  they would be stealing your Grandmothers jewels I imagine!

Steps wrote: It's wrong to call the people who do this recreational fishers.  They are operating commercially and selling what they take.  There is no way that amount was for personal use. They are just criminals stealing something and selling it.  They should be prosecuted as such, not under the same laws as someone who takes one too many fish or has a snapper that's 29cm instead of 30cm.  A thought I have had on the back of my mind for sometime. Basically they are ILLEGAL UN LICENSED COMMERCIAL operators with such a quanity the intention is to sell not rec fishers that have taken a few over the limit Not rec fishers Is there not something along these lines with illegal drug possession.. if over a certain amount its automatically possession for supply???? one changes from being a 'user' to a supplier ??? If applied to these illegal fishery operations they would on that basis change from a recreational to an illegal commercial operation

+1

The biggest issue with this whole thing is that the bed has only bounced back in the last 3-4 years. it's been kept quiet up here and the bed has stayed in a reasonable order, Problem is with it all over the news now that everyone now knows where this bed is. While it's got a good amount on it it wont tolerate a summer of every aucklander out there taking the 50 pp every day that there up here... so good bye mussel bed this season I would say.