A group of Wellington divers have been charged after a massive paua bust made after the delicacy had been offered for black market sale.
In a joint Ministry of Primary Industries and police operation, a pair of divers were discovered on Wellington's south coast in possession of more than 600 paua - 30 times the daily limit for two people.
MPI team manager of fisheries for the lower North Island Mike Green said the operation targeted a group of people who had been driving in isolated areas only accessible by specialty 4WD vehicles.
"Following this, four fisheries search warrants were conducted at the addresses of the two divers as well as another two people identified earlier in our inquiry," Mr Green said.
"As a result, another 4x4 vehicle and more dive gear were seized."
Four men will now likely face charges under the Fisheries Act – charges that attract a maximum penalty of a $250,000 fine and, or five years imprisonment.
Mr Green says further search warrants were undertaken this week at properties where people who were allegedly purchasing the seafood from the divers lived.
"These people will also likely face serious fisheries charges. Abusing our fisheries and taking in excess of the daily limit for any fish or shellfish is bad enough," Mr Green said.
"This sort of offending has a huge impact on the sustainability of the fishery and creates a localised depletion that impacts everyone.
"Providing and sustaining a black market for those who are taking illegally is equally as bad.
"We will come down hard on everyone involved and we will seize, when applicable, all the gear, equipment and vehicles used in the commission of an offence."
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