Fishery officers have recorded a 100% non-compliance rate during a series of patrols in a coastal Northland community, including finding dozens of undersized rock lobsters.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) said officers carried out three patrols in the Whananaki area over a five-day period, with every person inspected found to be breaching fishing rules.
During the first incident on August 20, officers investigated an abandoned catch bag left behind by two people who appeared to leave the area in a hurry.
Inside were eight undersized packhorse rock lobster, all of which had been taken using purpose-made illegal crayfish hooks. Several lobsters were also in soft-shell condition.
The bag also contained four red rock lobster, including one undersized lobster and one egg-bearing female, as well as four undersized pāua.
The ministry said the catch indicated the area being targeted was likely acting as a nursery habitat for juvenile marine species.
Five days later, officers encountered two men diving in a nearby location, and found they were carrying eight undersized packhorse rock lobster, including several with soft shells.
The two men would receive infringement notices of up to $750 each.
Officers later returned to Whananaki and located three divers who had allegedly hidden their catch bag nearby.
The catch bag contained 26 undersized packhorse rock lobster and a female red rock lobster carrying external eggs. Many of the packhorse rock lobster had been speared, while some were in soft-shell stage.
Two of the three divers had their full sets of dive gear seized and were likely to face prosecution.
The ministry said the "concerning results" highlighted ongoing pressure on fisheries resources around Whananaki, where many residents relied on kaimoana as a food source and cultural resource.
"Protecting them requires a collective effort to ensure future generations can continue to enjoy and benefit from healthy marine ecosystems," it said.
"If current levels of non-compliance continue, the long-term sustainability of these valuable resources will be at risk."
It urged anyone who witnessed suspicious or illegal fishing activity to report it to fisheries officers.
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