Taranaki fishery officers seized 338 pāua, 199 of which were undersized, from a closed area on Thursday night. Photo: Fisheries New Zealand
Taranaki fishery officers say three people were caught with more than 330 pāua taken from a closed area with nearly 200 of them undersized.
Fisheries New Zealand district manager Aaron Mendoza said they received a call reporting suspicious activity on Thursday night.
The pāua had been taken from the Rahotu area within the fisheries closure zone.
He said fisheries officers with police back-up topped the gatherers' vehicle.
It was found 199 of the 338 pāua were undersized.
"When people disregard the rules - they are stealing from everyone. This followed a catch the night before where 118 pāua were taken by three other people from the closed area near Opunake and 16 of these shellfish were undersize," Mendoza said in a statement.
It was likely the six people involved in these two separate incidents would be prosecuted, he said.
Taranaki fishery officers seized 118 pāua, 16 of which were undersized, on Wednesday night from a closed area. Photo: Fisheries New Zealand
The Western Taranaki closure area runs from Tapuae Stream, just south of New Plymouth, to Taungatara Stream, south of Opunake. The area is closed to taking all shellfish, including pāua. The closure is in place until December 2026.
"The area is closed for a reason - to rebuild shellfish stocks to ensure sustainable fisheries into the future. When we find people breaking the rules, we take action," Mendoza said.
Outside the closed areas the minimum daily size for pāua in the Taranaki area is 85mm with a daily limit of five per gatherer.
Anyone who suspects illegal activity should report it through the Ministry for Primary Industries' 0800 4 POACHER line (0800 47 62 24).
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