Paua poacher fined $5000

Kaikoura diver Anton Pinnell was today fined a total of $5000 and sentenced to 140 hours' community service after admitting taking 500 paua and 36 rock lobsters from the area in March this year.

The daily limit is 10 paua and six rock lobsters.

Fisheries officers believe the paua and rock lobster were destined to be sold on the black market in Christchurch.

Ministry of Fisheries Nelson district compliance manager Geoff Clark told Christchurch District Court today that taking such large amounts of paua and rock lobster undermined their future sustainability.

Judge Michael Crosbie said the offending undermined efforts to rebuild the sustainability of the paua fishery in the Kaikoura area through re-seeding juvenile paua.

He ordered $3000 of the fine to be paid in reparation to the committee managing the fishery.

- NZPA