Stab-proof vests for Fish and Game rangers might be the norm in the North, but Otago rangers have not adopted the practice.
Fish and Game Otago operations manager Ian Hadland said rangers in the region seldom encountered hostile fishermen and Otago was reasonably safe for rangers.
''We're not striking these sorts of issues,'' Mr Hadland said.
''It's a very rare occurrence that we would have anything like that down here.''
The Rotorua Daily Post reported this week that wearing stab-proof vests had become ''routine'' among rangers in the Rotorua lakes area.
Mr Hadland said it was a different clientele and many people lived a subsistence lifestyle where fishing was a main source of food for families.
''We do hear that they are striking [hostile fishermen] more regularly. I think they are the only region that has moved to that.
''We only strike two or three offences out of 100 checks. Generally, it has never been a problem. I have been rangering for 20 years and I've never been threatened.''
On Tuesday, the Otago Daily Times reported a spike in fishing offences, with 21 infringement notices issued in the first month of the season, compared with 27 for the entire season last year.
