Crab dumping turn stomachs of Northlanders

This huge pile of paddle crabs dumped in dunes off Ruakaka Beach has angered locals.

Access to Northland's coastal playground is one of the reasons why people live in our region.

In some cases, the attraction is so great, it is the only reason some people live here.

And it doesn't sit right with many people, when we see ignorant waste of sea food.
Even when it is the humble paddle crab.

Last week, someone panicked and dumped hundreds of paddle crabs in the sand dunes off Ruakaka Beach. You are allowed 50 crabs per person. There were several hundred crabs - meat intact.

Ministry for Primary Industries fishery offices were in the area ensuring local mussel limits were being adhered to, after learning that the area had taken a hammering recently.

The theory is that crab fishers panicked after realising there were fishery officers about and dumped the illegal catch.

Bizarrely, when officers tried to find the crabs, they were gone.

The person who found them said they did not smell- so they were fresh. But it beggars belief that they were fresh enough to be thrown back into a vehicle after a day in the sun and eaten?

Although someone ignorant enough to dump them in the first place may be stupid enough to pick them up again and eat them.

Commercial fishers have had the finger pointed at them, but the location of the dumping suggests recreational crab hunters.

Which points the finger at the hordes of visitors from Auckland that travel north to catch crabs.

At some point, there will be physical conflict between locals and visiting crab fishers.

Because there is a resentment at the "take" mentality of the fishers, who don't just take, they "leave behind" as well.

Generally, it's rubbish on the beach, and pig and chicken offal used to attract the crabs.

These things wash up on the beach and nature takes care of them eventually, but it's a sight locals find hard to stomach.

Much like crabs cooked after a day in the sun.

If there is any coastal karma, whoever dumped the crabs and picked them up again has spent a few days curled up with food poisoning, and has lost the desire to eat another crab ever again.