Paua thieves bring ‘timely reminder’

The commercial paua industry has applauded the first seizure of illegally-caught paua this season. Last week local fisheries officers nabbed two poachers in Hawke’s Bay with 611 paua – more than 30 times their legal limit.

Paua Industry Council chief executive, Jeremy Cooper, congratulated the Ministry of Fisheries for bringing the pair to justice, but he was let down that people were still “plundering a native and unique fishery”.

“This is a disappointing, but timely reminder that we all need to remain vigilant about our paua resource. Poaching is theft. It’s something that affects all New Zealanders because it jeopardises the future of a carefully managed fishery.

“There is no commercial fishing of paua in Hawke’s Bay, but looking after the paua fishery is everyone’s responsibility. It’s a resource we all share and it’s culturally and economically important to all Kiwis.”

The industry supported the enforcement of limits on paua and encouraged people to report those taking more than their fair share, Mr Cooper said.

“Catch limits are there for good reason. Commercial and recreational fishers need to abide by them so that everyone can enjoy the fishery now and in the future.”

Background:

- Paua occur on shallow, inshore reefs.

- For recreational fishers, the legal daily limit for one person is 10 and the legal size is 125mm with an accumulation limit of 20 paua (i.e. the total number ogf paua you can have in your posession is 20 paua).

- If you land undersized paua they need to be returned to the same habitiat you harvested them from.

- New Zealand's paua fishery is managed by strict quotas, which allow only a set amount of paua to be taken commercially each year and only within certain areas.

- Commercially harvested paua must be collected by free diving, the use of breathing apparatus (scuba) is prohibited.

- Most of the paua caught in New Zealand is from the Wairarapa coast southwards. The major fishing areas are in the lower South Island and the Chatham Islands.

ENDS

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