Fishery officers seize illegal crayfish and paua

Gisborne fishery officers seized dozens of illegal crayfish and paua in two separate incidents over the Christmas and New Year period, thanks to information from concerned members of the public.

One incident saw three individuals caught with crayfish and paua they had gathered within the Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve at Whangara, 27km northeast of Gisborne.

The second incident involved a group, who had been diving north of Gisborne, with 50 undersized crayfish and a small quantity of illegal size paua.

All illegal seafood was seized and returned to sea both within the Marine Reserve and also at a release point at Gisborne.

Team leader Martin Williams said the size of the crayfish taken in the second incident was of concern as some were so small they could fit in the palm of your hand.

Over the Christmas-New Year holiday period, fishery officers targeted specific coastal areas based on information reported by members of the public who were concerned about illegal activity they had witnessed.

"The information provided was invaluable and assisted my officers in targeting those persons blatantly ignoring fisheries rules," Mr Williams said.

Part of the problem was incorrect use of crayfish measuring devices and unfamiliarity with the tail width measuring technique, he said.

"If you are unsure of how to measure your crayfish, make contact with a fishery officer prior to going fishing to ensure you know the rules and regulations."

Mr Williams said another serious problem was the illegal door-to-door sales of crayfish for up to $15 each.

"If you are caught selling crayfish and paua illegally, fishery officers can seize any vehicle used in the commission of the offence.

"My advice to the public is not to buy fish offered in this manner. If possible, please attempt to obtain information such as the registration number of the vehicle used and description of those involved and immediately contact the local MFish office."

- NZPA