Arrest warrants issued for alleged trout poachers

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Arrest warrants have been issued for four people who allegedly poached trout last year.

The three men and one woman had been wanted by Fish and Game since late last year.

Fish and Game then applied for the arrest warrants which were issued by Rotorua District Court.

Fish & Game officer Anthony van Dorp said the cases centred on people who allegedly poached spawning trout late last year.

One of the cases involved 25 spawning fish being taken from a small Lake Rotorua spawning tributary stream.

"This is a very serious case of poaching spawning trout - such offending has the potential to severely harm the fishery," Mr Dorp said.

Arrest warrants were only sought when the offences were serious enough and carry potential prison terms, he said.