Two people due in court on paua poaching charges have been apprehended again, this time with 67 allegedly undersized paua.
A group of five people - two adults and three minors - were stopped at Warrington Beach on Monday with 68 paua, almost three times the legal limit, Ministry for Primary Industries Otago compliance manager Murray Pridham said.
Sixty-seven were undersized, he said.
The adults are due to appear in the Dunedin District Court next Tuesday, after being apprehended in the same spot on December 22, with 396 paua, 393 allegedly undersized.
The daily limit for paua in the East Otago taiapure is five per person. The minimum size is 125mm.
Mr Pridham said fisheries officers were tipped off by a member of the public, who recognised the vehicle.
‘‘There was concerns when a description of the vehicle was given to us.''
‘‘The fisheries officers, on investigation, found paua hidden in the vehicle in different places,'' Mr Pridham said.
‘‘It seemed to be quite a blatant attempt.
‘‘They appeared to have a complete disregard for the regulations applying in that area.''
The pair would probably be charged again, along with others in the group, Mr Pridham said.
‘‘They have acknowledged it,'' he said.
‘‘I think the smallest was down to around 69mm.
‘‘It's clearly almost half the size of what they are supposed to be.''
Fisheries officers returned the unshucked paua to the water, but Mr Pridham feared they would not survive.
‘‘If paua are damaged when taken off the rocks, they are unlikely to survive,'' he said.
On February 3, a person was found in the same area with 45 undersized paua and was also due to appear in the Dunedin District Court next Tuesday, Mr Pridham said.
Offenders could be fined up to $250,000 and property used for poaching forfeited.
Mr Pridham reminded people to check the rules and regulations for collecting shellfish.
He urged members of the public to collect as much information on people and vehicles they deemed suspicious before contacting the ministry on 08004POACHER.
