A Gisborne man has been fined $600 after he caught, killed, and decapitated a great white shark at Mahia Peninsula earlier this year.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) was alerted to the incident when a local woman spotted the shark's carcass near Mahia Boat Ramp on March 15.
The man claimed he did not know it was a great white shark and brought it ashore where the head and jaws were removed and taken.
DOC operations manager Tairawhiti Matt Tong said the department investigated and located the person responsible after several weeks.
"As well as failing to report his capture of the animal, the man received the infringement for being in possession of the head and jaw of the shark without a relevant authority under the Wildlife Act.
"We’re extremely grateful for the assistance of the kuia [a Māori female elder] who informed us and assisted with the investigation. DOC staff are recovering the head and jaw, which will be gifted back to iwi."
Great white sharks were protected under the Wildlife Act 1953, which meant it was illegal to hunt, kill, or otherwise harm them, or to possess or trade any part of the animals.
Tong said people should carefully release any sharks accidentally caught when fishing to avoid situations like this.
"Should you inadvertently catch or kill a great white shark, notify DOC immediately. Useful information to provide with the specimen includes the location and depth the fish was taken in.
"Accidentally catching something is not an infringement, but keeping, killing, or failing to report it is."
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