Man caught fishing near Cook Strait cable

Transpower has warned fishermen and divers to beware of the location of high voltage electricity cables when fishing or diving in the Cook Strait.

It comes after a fisherman was fined $2000 for fishing and diving in the restricted zone surrounding the Cook Strait power cable.

Derek Lee admitted fishing in a protected area, the 7km wide zone runs from Fighting Bay in the Marlborough Sounds to Oteranga Bay on Wellington's south-west coast, when he appeared in Wellington District Court earlier this year.

Police spotted Lee fishing in Oteranga Bay in September last year. Lee said he had drifted into the zone but as police were speaking to him a diver surfaced in the zone with a spear gun and crayfish, most of which were under size.

Checks found the cable was not damaged.

The case carried a maximum fine of $20,000 and the Crown had asked for a fine of up to $9000.

However, Judge Ian Mill said there was a relatively minor risk of damaging the cable, and convicted and fined Lee $2000.

Transpower acting general manager grid performance Kieran Devine said today that protecting the high voltage of the submarine cables was critical to ensuring a secure supply of electricity in both the North and South Islands.

"Fishermen and divers should familiarise themselves with the restrictions in the Cook Strait cable protection areas to be aware of zone to ensure their activities are compatible with the operation of the high voltage direct current submarine cables."

- NZPA