Pipi poacher three times take limit

A Whangarei man who took three times the legal daily limit of pipi will have to complete 40 hours community work for his crime.

James Frederick Ututaonga, 38, of Otangarei, appeared in Whangarei District Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to a charge of taking three times the daily limit of shellfish.

The court heard Ututaonga did not work, his wife did, but he looked after their four children. He had decided to collect the pipi to feed his children and elderly grandparents who were not able to go in the water.

The Ministry of Primary Industries said Ututaonga went to Ngunguru River Estuary on Feb 1 this year. He went to a pipi bed where he gathered the shellfish and put them in a blue diver's bag with a blue float.

As he returned to his car a Fisheries Officer carrying out a routine patrol asked to inspect the dive bag. The officer counted 480 pipi.

The daily limit for taking or possessing pipi is 150.

Ututaonga did not have a customary permit to take the shellfish. The 330 excess pipi were returned to the sea.

Judge John McDonald decided if Ututaonga could not pay a fine 40 hours community work would be the appropriate punishment.

Under the Fisheries Act the maximum fine for a charge of taking three times the daily limit of shellfish is $20,000. Any equipment used to take the shellfish can also be seized, unless there are special circumstances.