Black market p¯aua arrests

A pair of divers have been caught with 600 pa¯ ua near Wellington – 30 times the legal catch limit.

The Ministry for Primary Industries is going after the buyers, who were believed to have been supplying the black market.

MPI team manager Mike Green said the group responsible were using specially equipped off-road vehicles to access remote areas of Wellington’s south coast.

The divers are facing charges for gathering excess pa¯ua and offering to sell it illegally.

During an inspection, it was discovered the pair had more than 600 pa¯ ua – 30 times the daily limit for two people, Green said. Two vehicles and dive gear used in the alleged offending were seized.

‘‘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,’’ he said. ‘‘As a result, another 4x4 vehicle and more dive gear were seized.’’

Four men will likely face charges under the Fisheries Act, with a maximum penalty of a $250,000 fine and/or five years in jail.

Further search warrants were carried out this week at properties belonging to people who were allegedly purchasing from the divers, Green said.

‘‘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.

‘‘This sort of offending has a huge impact on the sustainability of the fishery and creates a localised depletion that impacts everyone,’’ he said. ‘‘Providing and sustaining a black market for those who are taking illegally is equally as bad.’’