Stewart Island man convicted for fishing in marine reserve
Date: 11 February 2008
The seriousness and consequences of illegal fishing in marine reserves has been highlighted after a Stewart Island man was convicted for such an offence in the Invercargill District Court (February 5, 2008).
This was the first prosecution brought about by the Department of Conservation against someone fishing in one of Southland's 12 marine reserves.
The charge, of which the offender pleaded guilty, was laid after a DOC ranger saw the offender catching fish in the Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara Marine Reserve, off Stewart Island, in December 2007.
Alan Christie, compliance officer for DOC, said the outcome was appropriate given the seriousness of the offence.
Marine reserves are established for the protection of marine life for present and future generations to enjoy.
"Offending of this nature goes against the very purpose of the marine reserves legislation and the species it is designed to protect," Mr Christie said.
He said over the years several people have had written warnings for breaking marine reserve regulations, but that grace period is now over.
"If you go freshwater fishing people know you need a licence. If you are going fishing or boating in Paterson Inlet/ Te Whaka ā Te Wera or in Fiordland, you need to know there are marine reserves and where their boundaries are. Ignorance is no defence."
Information about marine reserves and their boundaries is available from DOC offices, visitor centres or on the department's website.
ENDS
Additional information:
- There are 10 marine reserves in the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area. These reserves are found from Milford Sound / Piopiotahi in the north to Preservation Inlet in the south. They range in size from 93 to 3672 hectares.
- Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara Marine Reserve is located in the outer portion of Paterson Inlet, on Stewart Island's east coast. The 1075 hectare marine reserve adjoining Ulva Island Open Sanctuary was established in 2004.
- The Auckland Islands Marine Reserve covers an area of about 484,000 ha in the Southern Ocean surrounding the Auckland Islands
- On August 23, 2006 a Nelson fisherman was fined $15,000 for operating a commercial scallop dredge in a Marlborough Sounds' marine reserve.
- A North Shore man was convicted and fined $1500 in the Warkworth District Court in October 2007 after pleading guilty to illegally fishing in the Goat Island marine reserve near Leigh.