Massive illegal Bay of Islands seafood haul shocks fisheries officers

The illegal flounder haul uncovered by fisheries officers in the Bay of Islands.

The scale of a Russell man's "massive" illegal flounder and oyster haul has shocked Fisheries officers and he's now facing court.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) said it is disappointed by the scale of an illegal haul of flounder and oysters in Northland that it described as 'massive'.

Northland fishery officers have caught a 66-year-old Russell man with 97 flounder and 677 shucked oysters which were packed in punnets.

MPI spokesman Steve Rudsdale said officers were shocked an seriously concerned at the scale of the offending.

"The haul was commercial in scale. The man had more than three times the daily limit of both flounder and oysters,'' Rudsdale said.

"On top of that, the man was fishing with a net that was 178 metres long. The maximum legal length for a flounder net is 60 metres. The way the oysters were packed in punnets and the length of the net indicate the illegal catch was destined for the commercial market.

Fisheries officers found 677 oysters packed in punnets when they busted a Russell man.

"We'd like to remind people that they should always be motivated by collecting for 'a feed rather than greed'. Also, that it's an offence to buy seafood from an unlicensed source. Buying fish this way is also a food safety risk particularly in respect of the oysters, given that commercial oyster farms in the Bay of Islands were closed recently due to high rainfall."

The man will face charges under the Fisheries Act and his boat, fishing nets and a vehicle have been seized.

Know the limits

To check fishery rules, regulations and limits go to www.mpi.govt.nz/travel-and-recreation/fishing/fishing-rules/

* MPI urges anyone who sees or knows of any suspicious fishing activity to call 0800 4 POACHER (0800 447-6224).