Too much pāua, possession of nearly 30kg of pāua mince, illegal set nets, selling snapper attract big fines
A range of fishers have been fined thousands of dollars for taking too much pāua, possessing a large about of pāua mince, using an illegal set net and selling snapper.
“People who choose to ignore the fishing rules need to know there will be consequences. 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’s Acting Director of Fisheries Compliance, Phil Tasker.
Over the past two months, these are some of the main cases before the courts.
A 49-year-old Taranaki man was fined $2,750 in the Hawera District Court for a range of recreational fishing offences. The man and two others were stopped by Fishery Officers in October 2024 at Ōpunake’s Te Namu Bay where it is closed to taking all shellfish, except for gathering crayfish. He was fined $500 for being in possession of 21 pāua, and a further $750 because 20 of the pāua were undersize, along with being in possession of two crab and two kina. He was also fined $1500 for failing to comply with the Fishery Officer’s orders. The daily limit per person for taking pāua in the area is five per person at a minimum size of 85mm. A 24-year-old Taranaki woman was fined $2250 for her part in the offending, and a 25-year-old man is still to appear before the court.
A 58-year- old Patea man was fined $1700 in the Hawera District Court for taking 44 pāua of which 35 were undersize. The man was stopped in January last year by Fishery Officers patrolling the Pihama area in South Taranaki. The daily limit per person is 5 pāua with a minimum size in that area of 85mm.
A 68-year-old Marlborough commercial fisher was fined $2,750 at the Blenheim District Court for setting two nets in the Kaiuma Bay area in October 2024. The nets were in excess of one quarter of the width of the arm of the sea – or basically covering about 40% of the width of the Bay. Commercial fishing regulations state a set net cannot extend more than one quarter and this rule has been in place for many years.
A 52-year-old Auckland man was fined $1500 in the Manukau District Court for selling recreationally caught snapper. The man was investigated by Fishery Officers in 2023 and sold between eight and 10 snapper for between $20 and $40 each. It is illegal to sell or trade fish caught recreationally. Only fishers with a commercial license can do so.
A 33-year-old Christchurch man was fined $5000 in the Christchurch District Court for being in possession of 27.79kg of minced pāua. Police were conducting a search warrant in 2024 and discovered the pāua. They contacted Fishery Officers. In total the man was in possession of 37 times the legal accumulation limit.
A 26-year-old Christchurch man was placed on five months community detention by the Christchurch District Court for his part in taking 486 pāua. The man and one other who is still before the court were diving near Kaikoura in September 2023 and were stopped by fishery officers. 159 of the pāua were undersize. The fishery officers believed the pāua was being gathered so to be sold illegally. It is illegal to sell recreationally caught fish.
A 43-year-old Hastings man has been ordered to do 80 hours community work by the Hastings District Court. The man had 203 pāua of which 176 were undersize when he was stopped by Fishery Officers in 2024 after being at Blackhead beach. The daily limit in the area is five pāua per person at a minimum legal length 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 Mr Tasker.
Fisheries New Zealand encourages people to report suspected illegal activity to the ministry’s 0800 4 POACHER number (0800 476 224).
