Man seven times over legal scallop limit

A Whangarei man has been caught with more than seven times the legal number of scallops.

The 34-year-old was diving at Urquharts Bay earlier this week. Fisheries officers found him with 148 scallops, many of which were undersize.

The legal limit is 20 per person per day.

Not long after, another four divers were caught with 147 scallops, a number of them undersize - which is less than 100 millimetres across.

Ministry of Fisheries Northland operations manager Darren Edwards says it is extremely disappointing. He says it shows certain people are still willing to take their chances, despite the huge penalties.

- NEWSTALK ZB