Don't take seafood from marine reserves - DOC

The Department of Conservation (DOC) has warned people not to fish or take seafood from the Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve just north of Auckland, saying if they do they will be caught and could be fined.

DOC said two men were fined $500 in the North Shore District Court last week after they admitted fishing in a marine reserve.

The men did not catch anything but DOC marine ranger Martin Stanley said even without catching anything they could still be charged and convicted.

"The charge of taking from a marine reserve includes just attempting to take seafood."

DOC said the Long Bay-Okura warning followed several incidents in the reserve but the warning applied to all marine reserves.

A North Shore resident admitted taking kina from the reserve earlier this year and several other cases were before the courts or being investigated, said DOC.

DOC said it also managed Te Matuku Bay Marine Reserve on Waiheke Island, Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve close to Leigh and Motu Manawa-Pollen Island Marine Reserve in the Waitemata Harbour.

Mr Stanley said marine reserves were established to preserve their natural state as the habitat of marine life.

"While the public is welcome and encouraged to enjoy marine reserves, all marine life in them is protected. Fishing and the removal or disturbance of any living or non-living marine resource is prohibited, except for permitted scientific study," he said.

The Long Bay reserve was established in 1995 and covered 980 hectares, including a variety of coastal habitats from sandy beaches to rocky reefs, mud flats and mangroves.

There are 32 marine reserves throughout New Zealand.

- NZPA