Three people - a mother and son and an alleged illegal immigrant - have been apprehended after taking more than 350 undersized paua from a remote Hawkes Bay beach.
Ministry of Fisheries district compliance manager Ray McKay said 366 paua were seized after the trio were intercepted loading a vehicle at Waipatiki, 31km southeast of Dannevirke, on Sunday night.
Only two of the catch were over the 125mm minimum size, and some were as small as 50mm, Mr McKay said.
The trio were believed to have travelled that day from their homes at Whenuapai, northeast of Auckland, and were monitored after an honorary fisheries officer saw them arrive at Waipatiki about 5pm.
They were apprehended when they returned after dark with at least 50kg of paua in plastic bags stashed into backpacks.
It was expected one man would be deported without being charged.
The late-model car used by the group could also be forfeited.
- NZPA
Trio had undersized paua
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