Otago's Fish and Game Council is using a debt collector to retrieve a portion of more than $40,000 owed by fishing licence agents in Wanaka, Queenstown, and Glenorchy.
A resolution to appoint a debt collector to deal with the Wanaka agency, which the council will not identify, was made at a recent council meeting in Cromwell.
Chief executive Niall Watson said the Wanaka agency, which owes about $17,000 to the council for fishing licences it sold on its behalf, was one of five agencies used by the council to sell licences in the wider Wanaka area.
He said there had been a history of problems dealing with the agency.
When asked to identify the agency, Mr Watson said he did not want to expose the company.
"It's certainly not the first time we've had to use debt collectors to recover licence revenue but it's not a common occurrence.
"In this case, our attempts to get the money by normal means aren't working, so we need to resort to something firmer."
Mr Watson was unsure how much the council would have to pay a debt collector.
A Queenstown agency, which owes about $15,000, is one of five agencies used by the council to sell licences in the wider Queenstown area.
A former Glenorchy agent owes about $10,000.
Mr Watson said the council was continuing to deal with those agencies directly to retrieve funds.
He would not identify either agent.
The council resolved to search for an alternative licensing agency at Wanaka.
Mr Watson said it was easy for agents in popular tourist towns to accumulate large debt in short periods of time, due to pressure on retailers during peak holiday periods.
"This pattern [of debt] has been repeated a number of times over the years with bigger agencies in Queens-town and Wanaka," Mr Watson said.
Each agency takes a 5% commission on sold licences, and is required to send completed licence books to Wellington monthly so payments to Fish and Game can be made.
