Fishery officers will be stepping up pressure on recreational fishers who break rules for set nets during summer.<\/p>\n
Most recreational fishers follow the rules and the overall compliance rate throughout the country sits at 94%, but set nets that don\u2019t meet regulations remain a problem.<\/p>\n
Need to know rules <\/p>\n
Fisheries New Zealand regional manager north, Andre Espinoza, said there are areas around the country that are closed or have restrictions on set netting \u2013 and fishers need to know and understand this as part of their planning or face the cost of not doing so.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn October we successfully prosecuted two men who broke every rule possible, including set netting in a prohibition area, no marked surface floats, using poles or stakes to attach it to the seafloor and using a set net that was too close to another set net. This cost them $4500,\u201d Espinoza said.<\/p>\n
Protect sustainability <\/p>\n
\u201cOur job is to protect the sustainability of our shared fisheries and help ensure protected species are not harmed by fishing activity. We take this type of offending very seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n
Espinoza said Fisheries New Zealand officers had heard all the excuses \u2013 such as not knowing rules like marking surface floats with your name and contact, or that staking nets to the seafloor is prohibited.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are restrictions around length and size of the set net too and they cannot be blocking a channel,\u201d Espinoza said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe often recover illegal set nets, and we will hold people to account who break these important rules.\u201d<\/p>\n
Download the app<\/p>\n
Espinoza said one key thing people can do before going fishing is to download the free NZ Fishing Rules mobile app \u201cbecause it will provide you with the latest rules for the area you intend to fish \u2013 including closures and gear restrictions\u201d.<\/p>\n
The NZ Fishing Rules mobile app is available at: www.mpi.govt.nz\/fishing-aquaculture\/recreational-fishing\/nz-fishing-rules-app<\/p>\n
For more information on set nets \u2013 see the Fisheries NZ Code of Practice at: www.mpi.govt.nz\/dmsdocument\/941-Set-Net-Code-of-Practice<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re planning to go fishing with a set net and you\u2019re not clear about what you can and can\u2019t do, you\u2019re risking a large fine or in some circumstances, you may find yourself before the court,\u201d Espinoza said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want people to have an enjoyable fishing experience \u2013 one to remember for all the right reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n
The public are encouraged to report any suspected illegal activity to the Ministry for Primary Industries\u2019 0800 4 POACHER line (0800 476 224).<\/p>\n