Northland illegal toheroa and tuatua catches prompt fisheries warning

Digging for shellfish is a summer tradition in Northland, but taking prohibited toheroa or excessive amounts of tuatua is likely to result in prosecution. Photo / NZME

Fisheries New Zealand is considering prosecutions after people were caught this summer illegally harvesting protected toheroa and taking excessive numbers of tuatua.

Northland manager Swazi Lal said officers had so far carried out more than 500 fisheries inspections over the holiday period, uncovering a range of offences – including prohibited toheroa, excess tuatua and pipi, and undersized snapper.

The legal catch limit per person for taking tuatua and pipi is 150.

Lal said 16 calls were made to the poacher line during the period, with tip-offs playing an important role in enforcement.

“Information from the public is invaluable to the work we do to protect our shared fisheries,” he said.

Most offending will be dealt with through warnings or infringement notices, but Lal said prosecutions were being considered in cases involving toheroa and large quantities of tuatua.

“We remind fishers that taking a prohibited species, such as toheroa, can result in a $500 infringement in most cases, but if a person takes more than 50, they will be prosecuted through the courts,” he said.

Lal said Northland has a 96% compliance rate, but urged anyone heading out fishing to make sure they knew the rules.

He encouraged recreational fishers to download the free NZ Fishing Rules mobile app, which works offline and provides the latest catch limits, closures and gear restrictions.

Anyone who sees suspected illegal fishing can report it to the Ministry for Primary Industries’ 0800 4 POACHER line (0800 476 224).

Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on a wide range of issues. She has nearly 20 years’ experience in journalism, most of which she spent court reporting in Gisborne and on the East Coast.