A pair of fishers are likely to face charges after being caught with more than 1800 pāua in Porirua.
The pāua was seized by fishery officers based in Wellington earlier this week.
“While inspecting a vessel shortly after it landed at Titahi Bay on Tuesday afternoon, fishery officers discovered 1863 pāua, which had already been shucked,” Fisheries New Zealand regional Manager Phil Tasker said.
The estimated retail value of the pāua was approximately $25,000.
Tasker said it was one of the biggest hauls of illegally harvested pāua in recent times.
“There is a maximum daily limit of five pāua per fisher in this area, which gives some context to the scale of this offending, and the potential damage it could do to the pāua population.”
He said it was incredibly disappointing to see offending of this scale.
“This fishery is a shared resource, and the rules are there to protect its sustainability for everyone. Our message for those who think they can steal this shared resource is that we will pursue offending and there will be consequences.”
"Pāua is the Māori name given to four New Zealand species of large edible sea snails…
It is known in the United States and Australia as abalone"
I never would have considered them snails. But I guess they kind of are. Are all shellfish considered snails 🤔
The scientific distinction is unlike a “bivalve” (think clams, mussels, pipi, tuatua, scallops), paua (which are gastropods, like land snails) only have one side to their shell.
Ah interesting!
Go fishieries officers!
I wonder what the fine will be? 2 slices of fuck all due to a promising rugby career or something, no doubt
Well the victims had a rough childhood so they’re likely to get 1 to 3 months home PlayStation time. They have already begun soaking the bus tickets in warm salt water.
Fisheries powers are pretty strong from what I remember many years ago. If you’re caught with undersized/too many can be instant confiscation of boat/vehicle
And it’s a brutal harvest, too - these clowns deserve everything they get.
180x the limit?! That’s appalling
