Editorial: Cheats lack dignity

Men seen fishing in the Poor Knights Islands Marine reserve.

It's cheating.

Aside from breaking the law, and poaching, anyone who fishes in a marine reserve is a cheat.

They are bending the rules by reducing their margin of error, by shooting fish in a barrel.

It takes little skill other than pointing your boat and gun, sorry, rod, in the right direction.

The fisher and companion photographed inside the Poor Knight Islands marine reserve displayed a double dose of ignorance and arrogance.

A boatload of tourists were aghast at the sight of the blatant boat, with at least one angler aboard, his or her rod bent over.

A photograph of the vessel has been circulated on the internet and passed to the Department of Conservation and it seems unlikely that the two people aboard are going to get away with it.

They have already been convicted in the Facebook court of public opinion, with judgment also passed on the poachers' intelligence.

It is not uncommon to see recreational fishing boats near the Knights, and most move on when they are reminded that they are inside the fishing reserve.

These two stayed put, ignoring the advice given to them.

And in doing so have put the boat, fishing gear at stake, along with a hefty fine and conviction.

I doubt their catch, in hindsight, was worth it.