Two Porirua men were last week caught with 364 mostly undersized paua on them, more than 18 times the daily limit, and now face up to five years in prison.
The two men were trying to dump the illegal haul overboard at Titahi Bay Beach when fisheries officers spotted thepair.
Nearly all of the paua were undersized, Ministry for Primary Industries Wellington District Compliance manager Mike Green said.
The national paua limit is 10 paua per person per day.
The men, aged 42 and 37, could each face up to five years in prison for the illegal haul, or fines up to $250,000.
