VIP.WB12
According to the Crown counsel, Tapsell also illegally sold the
paua for well below market value to local fish and chip shops. The
Crown also said that the retail value of the paua taken by Tapsell
and two others during the previous two years was around $78,750.
UNDERSIZED PAUA
During a routine sea patrol in December 2012 at Opito Bay,
Coromandel Ministry for
Primary Industries fishery
Stolen undersize paua
officers caught a Whitianga
man with more than three
times the recreational daily
limit for scallops.
Wayne David McFarlane
has been fined $1000 plus
court costs of $132, and all
of his dive gear forfeited,
after being convicted at the
Thames District Court.
MacFarlane was entitled to gather 20 scallops, plus a maximum
of two additional daily limits for the two safety persons on board
the vessel at the time, therefore his full legal entitlement was just
60 scallops. Of the 175 scallops seized by, 41 were undersized.
"We view this level of offending as just plain greedy," says
MPI District Compliance Manager Brendon Mikkelsen. "Fishery
officers will continue to conduct sea patrols and routine spot checks
throughout the greater Coromandel Peninsula area," he says.
For further information about recreational fishing limits visit,
www.fish.govt.nz.
CHARGES LIKELY FOR UNDERSIZED CRAYFISH
The assistance of the public by reporting suspicious or
illegal activity to fishery officers is a key element in
protecting our fishery:
0800 4 POACHER (0800 4 76224) in confidence.
Free mobile services are available. Text "app" to 9889 to
download the New Zealand fishing rules smartphone app.
Or text the name of the species you are fishing for, e.g.
crayfish, paua, to 9889 and receive the size and limit
number by return text. Texts are free.
SEARCHLIGHT SONAR
No Sonar has better
directivity than WESMAR
engineered transducers.
100% of the transducer
surface area points in the
direction of the fish in a
sharp narrow beam.
Dispersed fish and
hard-to-mark fish are
detected clutter-free.
VIP.S92
A sizeable haul of undersized crayfish was seized in Gisborne as
Ministry of Primary Industries fishery officers look to put a stop
to illegal catches.
"Any people who think they can run the gauntlet and not get
caught should think again. My officers will be out in force to
stamp out organised illegal activity," said MPI Poverty Bay
district compliance manager Tom Teneti.
A member of the public alerted MPI officers to the four
suspects and 72 rock lobsters were subsequently seized. A
5.5m vessel and vehicle were also taken by fisheries officers
at the Gisborne Harbour boat ramp. Prosecution may result in
large fines or community sentences and all gear and equipment
forfeited to the Crown if convicted.
The four were using sophisticated methods to evade detection
and it required a full complement of Gisborne fishery officers to
apprehend the four suspects, Teneti said.
"Even more individuals are going through the courts as
we speak. At some point those with a total disregard for the
sustainability of our rock lobster and paua fisheries will get
caught – it's just a matter of time – and my officers have the
time and motivation to catch them."
Now available
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So-Pac Marine.
www.sopac.co.nz | info@sopac.co.nz
+64 9 448 5900 | 41c William Pickering Dr, Albany, Auckland
May/June 2013 Professional Skipper 67
