Taranaki farmers have been so outraged at reports of poachers taking hundreds of paua above the legal limit they are considering banning public access across their land to the coast in an attempt to protect the species.
Fishery officers rushed to several locations following a spate of calls from thepublic concerned that people were collecting paua in numbers way beyond the legal daily limit of 10 per person.
One group of three Stratford men were found with a total of 701 paua, while another trio from South Taranaki had more than 150.
The thefts come only weeks after new regulations were introduced reducing the minimum legal size for paua in Taranaki from 125mm to 85mm, in recognition of the fact that the region's paua were naturally small and grew to only 90-100mm in length.
Some coastal farmers say they've had enough of watching people cross their land returning to their vehicles with sacks laden with paua.
Ministry of Fisheries spokesman Brad Dannefaerd told the Taranaki Daily News fisheries officers acted at the weekend after local farmers used the ministry's free poacher phone line to complain of big numbers of paua being illegally taken from locations along the South Taranaki coastline between Manaia and Opunake.
"They're happy to let people walk across their paddocks to get a few paua - and they hate the thought of possibly having to lock gates because of the actions of a few.
"But they will. They're quite prepared to restrict or even deny public access to the coast if that means preventing the local fishery from collapsing."
Many other locals have also been disgusted by the poaching in the area.
Student Brad Bennett has been gathering paua for years.
"I didn't believe it when I saw it. I just thought 'well, if everyone starts doing this there is going to be nothing for our kids and grandkids. They will miss out," he told the newspaper.
The apprehended poachers, if convicted, could face fines of up to $250,000 and forfeiture of gear and vehicles.
If it can be proved that there was a commercial motive behind the poaching they could face prison terms of up to five years.
