Archived content: This media release was accurate on the date of publication.
Date: 12 February 2015
A Canterbury man has been successfully prosecuted for breaking whitebaiting rules while fishing on the Ashley River/Rakahuri last spring.
Mr Robert Chong, 39, dairy farmer, of Kaiapoi was caught fishing with two unattended nets in the river in September. Under the whitebait regulations fishers can only use one net at a time and must remain within 10 metres of their net.
A complaint from the public led to Mr Chong being investigated.
DOC Conservation Services Manager Wayne Beggs said DOC takes the issue of illegal whitebaiting seriously and will prosecute people who flaunt the regulations.
“The rules are there to protect the whitebait fishery for future generations. Mr Chong’s actions reflect scant regard for the sustainability of the fishery.”
“Whitebait are in decline and we need to do everything we can to protect their habitat and look after the fishery.”
“I would like to thank the public for calling to advise us of the offending.”
Mr Chong’s nets in the Ashley River/Rakahuri
Robert Chong appeared and pleaded guilty to both charges in the Christchurch District Court on 29 January.
He was fined $500 on each of the two charges plus court costs, and had his whitebait nets and go-by fences forfeited.
Whitebait are the juveniles of five migratory native fish species— inanga, kōaro, giant kōkopu, banded kōkopu, giant kōkopu and shortjaw kōkopu—of which the latter three are found only in New Zealand.
DOC is responsible for managing New Zealand’s whitebait fishery.
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