Pāua in Coromandel targeted by poachers

Undersized pāua illegally taken from the Coromandel. Photo / Supplied

Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) fisheries officers have had a busy summer in the Coromandel region with a number of patrols leading to the apprehension of several people who are likely to face serious charges under the Fisheries Act.

Between January 16 and 21, seven people were caught with an alleged total of more than 400 excess and undersized pāua.

MPI said the areas that were patrolled were known to be targeted by divers taking advantage of extreme low tides and, in these cases, into the early evening and after dark.

MPI spokesman Jason Howat said the patrols focused on catching people who were putting the sustainability of the fisheries at risk through illegally taking undersized and excess pāua.

In one instance three men were stopped by fishery officers and allegedly found to be in possession of 165 excess and undersized pāua.

An inspection of another catch resulted in one Waikato man being caught with an alleged 163 excess and undersize pāua, while another stopped and inspected was found to be in possession of and alleged 64 excess and undersized pāua.

The men had the vehicle they were using seized and each was likely to face serious charges under the Fisheries Act.

An infringement notice of $750 was issued to another two fishers who were allegedly found to be in possession of 39 excess and undersized pāua.

"People who continue to abuse our fisheries will be caught and dealt with accordingly. This should be a reminder to poachers that we're out and about patrolling regularly and they should expect to be stopped and inspected at any time," Howat said.

"We encourage the public to continue to keep an eye out for this kind of behaviour. We would appreciate anyone who sees any suspicious activity to report it through MPI's 0800 4 POACHER line."