Shellfish poacher forfeits $128,000 car

A massive haul of shellfish cost the poacher her Audi Q7 luxury car. File photo / Getty Images

An Auckland cockle lover has forfeited her $128,000 luxury Audi Q7 after being busted poaching shellfish.

Xiaojuan Wei, a local resident, was gathering shellfish with her mother in June last year at an eastern suburbs beach.

Wei, who appeared in the Manukau District Court yesterday, had her $128,000 vehicle forfeited to the Crown after pleading guilty to poaching a huge haul of the seafood delicacies.

On the day in question, Ministry for Primary Industries honorary fishery officers responded to a call from the public on 0800 4POACHER concerning excess shellfish being taken from the beach.

They found Wei with a large sack containing 1162 cockles and 183 whelks. A further 960 oysters were found in her vehicle.

The daily legal entitlement for cockle gatherers is 50. Rock oysters and whelks can make up part of a combined limit of 50 other specified shellfish species per gatherer per day.

Judge Blackie gave Wei a dressing down for being greedy, convicted her, fined her $1500, and ordered her to pay court costs of $130 in addition to ordering the forfeiture of her car.

MPI district compliance manager Mike Simmons said anyone who exceeded their daily limits of shellfish could expect to be caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

"Shellfish form a vital part of the sea environment and the food chain. The depletion of shellfish by gatherers who flout the rules has lasting effects on the sea environment."