Evan Davies, DOC summer ranger and warranted officer, said he's stopped about five people fishing in the Motukaroro Marine Reserve since Labour Weekend - and it's not even summer yet. Photo/John Stone
Evan Davies has been patrolling a Whangarei Harbour marine reserve since Labour Weekend and has already had to stop five people fishing where they shouldn't be - about the same number of people stopped in the previous two years.
The Department of Conservation summer ranger and warranted officer took the Northern Advocate around the 26.2ha Motukaroro Marine Reserve at Reotahi following concerns that more people than usual are fishing in the reserve.
Entering the reserve from Beach Rd, there is a sign at the top of the walkway indicating the marine reserve. It includes the rules and a map of the boundary of the reserve.
There is another sign on the beach as well as a large triangle land marker. Meanwhile, in the water, the reserve boundary is marked by yellow buoys and green navigational buoys.
But it seems these are being ignored or missed. Mr Davies has stopped four or five people from fishing "smack-bang" in the centre of the reserve since Labour Weekend, which is about the same number of people he has stopped in the last two years.
"You get some in kayaks, boats, on the rocks as well as on the wharf. If you're walking anywhere to the marine reserve you have to pass a sign.
"We've already stopped maybe four or five people and we haven't really hit summer yet," he said.
Fishing of any kind; taking or disturbing marine life, including shellfish, seaweeds and sea urchins; taking of any part of the seafloor including rocks and shells, are all prohibited under the Marine Reserve Act 1971.
Anyone breaking these rules can face penalties of up to three months' imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine. The vessel, fishing, or diving equipment used and any marine life taken can be seized by a warranted enforcement officer.
Mr Davies said most people fishing in the reserve were from out of town.
"Most of the community is on board. There are a few people who definitely keep an eye out, they get annoyed when someone is fishing in here," he said.
Mr Davies said there is one area where punters get confused. DOC's yellow buoys mark the reserve's outer boundary but at the Motukaroro Marine Reserve this boundary extends to two green channel markers.
One man who was fishing outside the reserve when the Advocate was out with Mr Davies was asked if he knew where the marine reserve boundary was. He thought it was outlined by the yellow buoys. Mr Davies said this is a common mistake but DOC is unable to put their yellow markers in that spot or put signs on the green navigational buoys.
This is why it paid to read signs, he said.
Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve also includes the Waikaraka Reserve (227.5ha). There is also the Poor Knights Island Marine Reserve.
Mr Davies advised people going fishing this summer to check for marine reserve boundaries beforehand and to stop and read signs.
"I can go out into the Whangarei Harbour, where there isn't a reserve, and catch my daily limit. There's no need to fish in a reserve."