'I'll smash you' threat to officers

Fisheries officer Steve Rudsdale.

A Hokianga man will complete 350 hours community work after he threatened to "smash" fisheries officers when they asked to check his catch which was in excess of daily limits for paua.

Charles Desmond Naera was sentenced in the Kaikohe District Court after pleading guilty to charges of possession of undersized paua, possession of more than three times the daily limit for paua, threatening language towards a fisheries officer and obstructing a fishery officer.

The drama unfolded at Kawerau, northwest of Dargaville, September 29, when fishery officers found gatherers with many times more than the daily limit of 10 paua per person. When Naera was approached by fisheries officers he threatened to "smash" them when they asked to check his catch.

He had 56 paua, 53 of which were under the minimum size of 125mm. He was sentenced to 350 hours community work by Judge Murray Hunt.

Ministry for Primary Industries district compliance manager Northland Steve Rudsdale said there was little tolerance for threats and aggressive behaviour towards fishery officers.

"Fishery officers used their powers to place the man under arrest, but his behaviour meant he wasn't taken into custody. Police accompanied fishery officers to the man's house the following day to take him into custody for processing," he said.

Mr Rudsdale said it was disappointing locals were abusing a paua resource highly valued by the community.

"We need the locals to be our eyes and ears and let us know when they see suspicious activity," he said. "It's a great help in dealing with this type of illegal fishing and protecting the future of the paua in the area."

-To report suspicious fisheries activity call 0800 4 POACHER (0800 476 224)