Archived content: This media release was accurate on the date of publication.
Date: 20 January 2015
The Department of Conservation (DOC) is pleased with the prosecution of two whitebaiters in the Wairoa District Court on January 12 2015 for breaches of the Whitebait Fishing Regulations.
Conservation Services Manager, John Lucas said DOC takes the issue of illegal whitebaiting seriously and will continue to prosecute people who deliberately flaunt the regulations.
Ricky Gallagher, 29, Freezing Worker and Beau Gallagher, 27, of Wairoa were found whitebait fishing out of season. The Gallagher brothers were discovered fishing for whitebait in the Wairoa River 30 days before the opening of the 2014 whitebait fishing season.
A complaint from the public led to the Gallagher brothers being apprehended by the Wairoa Police.
Ricky and Beau Gallagher were each fined $400 and ordered to pay court costs of $130. Forfeiture was ordered of the net, bucket and pole.
Mr Lucas said “the Whitebait Regulations are there to protect the whitebait fishery for future generations. The actions of the Gallagher brothers were disappointing and showed they had little regard for the sustainability of the fishery.”
“I would like to thank the New Zealand Police for their assistance, and the public for calling to advise us of the offending.”
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Contact
Jamie Quirk, Services Ranger
Phone: +64 6 869 0460
Mobile: +64 27 432 4920