DOC investigates reports of fishing in marine reserve

DOC officials are investigating reports of commercial fishing at the Pollen Island (Motu Manawa) Marine Reserve in Auckland. Photo / Supplied

Department of Conservation (DOC) officials have seized two nets and about 80 fish following reports of commercial fishing in a marine reserve in Auckland.

Officials were alerted to the boat by a motorist on Auckland's Northwestern Motorway, which passes through the Motu Manawa/Pollen Island Marine Reserve between Pt Chevalier and Te Atatu on Waitemata Harbour.

The motorist said he saw a fishing boat laying nets in the reserve, DOC biodiversity manager Phil Brown said. The nets and fish were seized soon afterwards

"We're investigating the incident and if we find an offence has been committed we'll be prosecuting," Mr Brown said.

The reserve protects about 500ha of the harbour. It includes the intertidal mudflats, tidal channels, mangrove swamp, saltmarsh, and shellbanks surrounding Pollen and Traherne Islands.

It is a feeding ground for white faced herons, pukeko, spotless crake and the endangered banded rail, while the wetlands are also important for non-waders, like kingfisher and fernbirds, and for migratory birds such as godwits, knots and sandpipers that fly to northern Asia to breed.

Mr Brown said there were two prosecutions for similar incidents in the Auckland area in the second half of last year, while two Gisborne men were recently sent to prison (one for eight weeks, the other for six weeks) for taking crayfish, kina and paua from the Te Tapuwae o Rongokaka Marine Reserve north of Gisborne.

- NZPA