Paua poachers still robbing Bay

ROGER MORONEY
Northern Hawke's Bay beaches, already under stress from years of illegal fishing, are continuing to be hammered by poachers.
Two incidents over the past fortnight, one at Tangoio and one at Waipatiki, have effectively announced to worried Ministry of Fisheries officers that the summer poaching season in the Bay is under way again.
Ray McKay, the district compliance manager for Napier, said Tuesday's apprehension of two Napier men and their vehicle revealed the indifference poachers had to marine stocks.
When the measuring rule came out, many of the 153 shelled paua barely made the 60mm mark and were about the size of a matchbox.
The limit size is 125mm, and the maximum number of legal paua per person, per day, is 10.
Like other investigators, he could only shake his head.
"It's disappointing that despite the publicity unlawful fishing has received in the media, some sections of the public are still not getting the message."
The latest capture of poachers only reinforced determination among officers to continue to target beaches which had been identified as illegal fishing grounds.
It appeared that the penalties they could face if caught did not figure strongly in the minds of poachers.
As well as losing their boats, motor vehicles and diving gear, fines imposed could be hefty.
In one case last year, where paua seizures were carried out at Waipatiki and Aropaoanui, boats and cars were seized and fines up to $5000 imposed.
Some offenders were also sentenced to community service. In the first "catch" of the season a fortnight ago, fisheries investigators working off public tip-offs, moved in on three divers seen fishing for paua at Waipatiki.
Their movements raised the suspicions of a person in the area who contacted a fisheries officers. The three were picked up on consecutive days - on both occasions caught with more than 50 paua.
"A motor vehicle was seized and the men involved would be charged soon," Mr McKay said.
Fisheries officer Kelly Pouwhare said tip-offs more often than not resulted in a catch.
"You have locals in these areas who are watching and protecting their beaches."
He said many locals, through experience, now recognised the tell-tale signs which indicated poaching was taking place.
* Anyone with any information about illegal fishing taking place, including the unlawful sale of fish, is asked to do their bit by calling the Ministry of Fisheries' Napier office on 835 1065. They could do so in confidence by calling 831 0273 and speaking to one of the investigators.