A man found in possession of more than 20 times the legal limit of paua hauled from Ocean Beach last year has been fined $1760.
Hastings man Trinity John Eparaima, 40, appeared before Judge Bridget Mackintosh in the Hastings District Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to two fisheries charges relating to possessing undersized and excess paua.
On October 13 last year Eparaima was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by Ministry for Primary Industries officers in Havelock North.
Both he and the driver, who is still before the courts, were found with a haul of 201 paua; more than 20 times the legal limit for one person.
Ministry for Primary Industries prosecutor Aroha Cooper told the court 193 of the black foot paua measured less than the legal length of 125mm.