Scuba to Plunder Paua Stocks

A 61 year old Waikanae man faces serious charges after being found with over 250 paua at New Zealand's Makara Beach. Fishery Officers observed him acting suspiciously and located a large sack of shucked paua concealed nearby. The man had been using scuba equipment to take the paua. It is illegal to take or be in possession of paua using scuba equipment. A lot of the larger, breeding paua, which is generally out of reach of snorkellers, will have been taken, affecting future paua stocks. The man could face up to five years imprisonment, and fines of up to $250,000. Fishery Officers ask the public to report any suspicious activity in our fisheries by phoning 0800 4 POACHER (0800 476 224).

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