“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 Director of Fisheries Compliance, Steve Ham.
The following cases were before the courts over the past month.
Three Masterton men were fined in the Masterton District Court for taking too many pāua. The daily limit for taking pāua in this area is 5 per person, with a minimum size of 125mm. The men had their catch inspected by a Fishery Officer at Ngawi in December last year. They included: a 25-year-old man fined $500 for taking 24 pāua; a 32-year-old man fined $700 for taking 31 pāua; and a 35-year-old man fined $650 for taking 19 pāua.
A 33-year-old Whanganui man was fined $1850 in the Masterton District Court for pāua and crayfish offences. The man had his catch inspected by a Fishery Officer in October last year. He had been fishing at Tora/Te Awaiti in the Wairarapa and had 33 pāua of which 28 were undersize. He also had 2 undersize crayfish. The daily limit for taking pāua in the area is 5 per person at a minimum size of 125mm. The daily limit for taking crayfish in the area is 3 per person with a minimum tail width of 54mm for male crayfish and 60mm for female.
A 54-year-old Whanganui man was fined $900 in the Porirua District Court for his part in taking 130 pāua from Makara near Wellington. Another man, aged 54, also from Whanganui was also fined $900 for his part in taking the pāua. 108 of the pāua were undersize. The daily limit per person for taking pāua in this area is five per person with a legal minimum of size of 125mm. The men had their catch inspected by Fishery Officers in February last year.
A 44-year-old and 45-year-old couple from Auckland have each been fined $900 in the Papakura District Court for taking 684 cockles from Kawakawa Bay. They had their catch inspected by Honorary Fishery Officers in October last year. The daily limit per person for taking cockles at that bay is 50 per person.
A 46-year-old Northland man was fined $2000 in the Dargaville District Court for his part in taking 200 undersize pāua. Two other people involved are still before the court. The man and two others were stopped by Fishery Officers in October 2024. The daily legal limit per person for taking pāua in that area is 10 at a minimum legal size of 125mm. All pāua taken ranged in size from 70 mm to 114mm.
A 56-year-old Christchurch man was fined $1200 in the Christchurch District Court for taking 180 mussels from Taylors Mistake. The daily limit per person is 50. He had his catch inspected by Fishery Officers in September last year.
A 54-year-old Auckland man was fined $3000 in the Papakura District Court for taking 1,415 cockles from Kawakawa Bay in January this year. The man had his catch inspected by Fishery Officers. The daily limit for taking cockles in that area is 50 per person.
A 25-year-old Wellington man was fined $1200 in the Wellington District Court for taking 24 pāua of which 23 were undersize. The man had been diving at Breaker Bay in November last year and his catch was inspected by a fishery officer. The daily limit per person for taking pāua in this area is five at a minimum size limit 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 are fishing in an area with limited mobile coverage,” says Mr Ham.
We encourage people to report any suspected illegal activity through the Ministry for Primary Industries’ 0800 4 POACHER line (0800 476 224).
