Fisheries New Zealand says a pair of Gisborne fishers are likely to face prosecution after they were found with 157 undersize pāua.
Fishery officers stopped the pair this week while doing catch inspections at Waihau beach, also known as Loisels beach, about 40 kilometres north of Gisborne.
“All pāua recovered was undersize with the smallest at 60mm – less than half the legal size of 125mm,” says Fisheries district manager Gisborne, Whakatāne, and Central, Jordan Cooper.
“Our fishery officers patrol a large coastal area and with summer on the way and more people expected to be fishing you can expect to regularly see us along the coasts and beaches.
“The daily limit per person is five pāua. This is in place to ensure sustainability. People who take more than their share are stealing from us all.
“The rules are there for a reason – to keep our shared fisheries sustainable into the future and when we find evidence of these rules being deliberately broken, we will take action,” Ms Cooper says.
The Ministry for Primary Industries encourages people to report suspected illegal activity through the ministry’s 0800 4 POACHER number (0800 476 224)
Download the free NZ Fishing Rules Mobile App for the latest rules in the area you intend to fish, including areas that are closed and gear restrictions for fishing.
