No licence a common offence

On the second day of summer, Eastern Fish & Game have revealed that while the most common offence encountered remains fishing without a licence, officer safety measures in dealing with offenders have been stepped up.

The Eastern Fish & Game Region includes the Rotorua lakes district, and takes in areas including the East Coast, Tauranga and the Rangitaiki Plains.


Last year a trout poacher was jailed for six months after being found guilty of taking spawning fish from a Bay of Plenty lake. Photo: File.

Fish & Game Officer Anthony van Dorp says that around 98 per cent of anglers stick to the rules, but every year about 80 people are caught committing 120 offences in total within the region.

Nearly half the number of people breaking the rules are caught fishing without a licence, while the use of illegal tackle and fishing closed waters are the next most common offences.

Anthony says poaching during the spawning season is more prevalent in some years than others, and this is something Fish & Game works hard to detect using equipment such as hidden cameras.

Officers generally deal with only a handful of cases annually involving obstruction, 'but we are certainly aware of the potential for violence from any offender, and the wearing of stab proof vests by staff is now routine”.

'Those who fish without a licence or commit other offences impact on the experience of law abiding anglers, and on a user pays basis, impose additional costs on those who did the right thing and bought a licence.”

Anthony says offences are dealt with in a variety of ways, including prosecution in court, and other informal ways as appropriate.

Last year's precedent-setting case where a trout poacher who took spawning fish was jailed for six months remains the most significant penalty to date.

His co-offender failed to appear in court for sentencing and a warrant was issued for his arrest which, to date, is still valid.

'If you have any information please notify us or the police.” Mr van Dorp adds.

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