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Plague soldier beetles (Chauliognathus lugubris) may be harmful to native New Zealand insects. They form huge mating swarms and are a potential carrier of diseases and other pests. MAUNGANUI BAY CLOSED FOR FURTHER TWO YEARS Saravuthy Mao was sentenced on all charges to five years��� and three months imprisonment and banned from fishing for three years. Mr Mao was the ringleader for a group that poached paua from the Wellington coastlines between January and March 2010. The illegal paua was on-sold into the Auckland Asian community and restaurants. Mr Mao committed these offences while on parole from prison for past poaching offences. During late 2010 Mr Mao was identified as the leader of a poaching ring which included his associate Ronald Daly. In early 2011, fisheries and police officers executed a search warrant at an Upper Hutt property and found scales for measuring methamphetamine, $16,135 cash, and 6.7 grams of methamphetamine. A further $13,770 cash was later located at the address of another associate, Harlee Watene. MPI Manager, Operational Support Unit, Gray Harrison says the case was a combined MPI and Police effort, ���Working together with Police strengthens our effort to prevent black market crime syndicates being established in our communities.��� Mr Daly was sentenced in June 2012 to five years imprisonment and banned from fishing for three years for poaching paua and selling it, and for conspiracy to supply, possession for supply, and supply of the Class A controlled drug, methamphetamine. Mr Watene was sentenced in October 2012 to three years��� and eight months for possession for supply and supply of methamphetamine. He was not part of the paua ring. The $29,905 cash that was identified during the investigation has been forfeited to the crown. PLAGUE OF SOLDIER BEETLES IN WELLINGTON Biosecurity officials discovered an infestation of plague soldier beetles on a vessel from Australia arriving at Wellington���s port in November. The AAL Brisbane had been targeted for full inspection by MPI after a recent spate of live beetle finds on vessels arriving from Melbourne. ���The vessel underwent a full inspection. It was found to be literally crawling with hundreds of beetles,��� says MPI���s Geoff Gwyn. ���The early warning shows our intelligence and surveillance system is working well and we are targeting vessels and cargo that have the highest risk.��� The vessel���s operations were halted while the beetles were treated and Biosecurity staff checked the berth and surrounding area for beetles. Port staff were also asked to keep a look out for the pest. MPI may lay charges. The Ministry for Primary Industries has announced that Maunganui Bay on the Cape Brett Peninsula in the Bay of Islands, will be closed to fishing for all species except kina for a further two years. Maunganui Bay was first closed to all fishing except kina on December 1, 2010 for a two-year period. The two resident hap��, Ngati Kuta and Patukeha ki Te Rawhiti, have requested a further closure as they consider that more time is required to allow depleted stocks in Maunganui Bay to continue rebuilding. The two hap�� have maintained a traditional r��hui (closure) over Maunganui Bay since March 2009, due to their concern about the depletion of fish stocks. The further closure provides ongoing statutory support for the traditional r��hui. ���Maunganui Bay has always been an important customary fishing area for our people. We consider that this further temporary closure will assist with regeneration of fish stocks in the area, not only for customary purposes but also for the benefit of the wider community. It will be especially helpful to species that are continuing to establish around the artificial reef formed by scuttling the ex-frigate Waitaha/Canterbury in the Bay in 2007,��� says spokesman Robert Willoughby. Maunganui Bay will remain closed until 30 November 2014 to the take of all fish, aquatic life and seaweed, except kina. International Paint A global company providing coatings and service to the marine industry within New Zealand and throughout the world VIP.PS43 For information on our range of Marine and Protective coatings, phone 0800 808 807 or visit www.international-marine.com International Paint 686 Rosebank Rd, Avondale, Auckland January/February 2013 Professional Skipper 67