People caught breaking new shellfish gathering rules at rockpools in and around Auckland and Coromandel could be fined $250.
Last month Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced new protections for Auckland and Coromandel rockpools to address overharvesting.
The indefinite closure covered the intertidal zone - the stretch of beach, rocky shore and rockpool between the high-tide mark and where the water reaches 2m deep.
"From November 26, Fishery Officers will be armed with a new tool – the ability to issue infringement notices, which carry a $250 penalty," Jones said.
"The new infringement regime gives Fishery Officers an option that sits between the current options of education of rule-breakers, and court action.
"People who take more than they should, or take species protected under the rules of the closure, are on notice that they will feel it in their hip pockets," Jones said.
He clarified that more serious offenders would still face prosecution and risk having anything in the commission of the offence seized, including vehicles.
"Kiwis told us clearly during consultation that stronger protections had to be backed by effective enforcement, and these changes will help ensure the rules are complied with," he said.
Under the closure which came into force on November 1, gatherers could no longer take marine invertebrates such as cat's eyes, mussels, limpets, chitons and periwinkles from the zone. Some species remain open to harvest under their own catch limits, including cockles, crabs, kina, octopus, oysters, pāua, pipi, rock lobster, scallops, sea cucumbers, prawns, squid and tuatua.
The protesters say Whangaparāoa’s intertidal zone and rock pools have been cleaned out over the years. (Source: 1News)
The daily limit for green-lipped mussels drops from 25 to 10 per person outside the closure, while mussel gathering inside the intertidal zone will be banned outright.
Jones said at the time that rockpool fossicking had been enjoyed by generations of New Zealanders but that it was being "exploited by a selfish few" taking too much.
"This behaviour is endangering these fragile ecosystems and putting at risk our beloved coastal areas."
To support the new rules, Fisheries New Zealand would place signs in the relevant areas, educating people about the changes, and running an extensive six-week awareness campaign.
Fines for breaching existing daily limits, which range from $250 to $500, will continue to apply.
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