Police pounce after tip about undersized paua

HAUL SEIZED: Charges are likely to be laid after a group of men was found with more than 300 undersized paua on the CHB coast. PHOTOS/SUPPLIED

Four alleged poachers were caught with more than 300 undersized paua on the CHB coast by police last week.

Porangahau Senior Constable John Singer said that after responding to a tip from the public he stopped the four men at Parimahu (Black Head Pt) about 7.30pm last Wednesday and found them with 366 paua - all but two of which were undersized.

One of the 364 undersized paua measured just 45mm. The limit for paua is 10 per person with a minimum size of 125mm.

Along with the paua haul, Mr Singer seized diving gear belonging to the men, who ranged in age from 30 to 45.

Mr Singer said they were not CHB locals but were from Hawke's Bay. The men claimed they were collecting the paua for a tangi.

Mr Singer said the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) had been notified and the four men were expected to face charges.

He said paua poaching was "always a problem from this time of year onwards" on the CHB coast, and he thanked the public for alerting police to the men's car and their suspicious activity.

"We can't be everywhere - we need the public to report these matters," he said.

An MPI spokesman said the quartet were yet to be charged and MPI was continuing its investigations.

The alleged paua poaching comes as police reveal they will be increasing their presence to prevent stock theft and illegal poaching on land.

Police said there would be more patrols and checkpoints in northern Hawke's Bay and southern Tairāwhiti from today until Sunday.

Maximum penalties for unlawful hunting under the Wild Animal Control Act were fines of up to $100,000 plus up to two years in prison.

Police warned that hunting-related items including firearms, knives, dogs, GPS units and vehicles could also be seized and forfeited.