Whitebaiter nets fine for regulations breach

The Department of Conservation prosecuted a Porangahau man last Friday, for two breaches of the Whitebait Fishing Regulations.

DOC became aware of the offending on August 19 2017 after New Zealand Police were tipped off by a frustrated member of the public.

A DOC warranted officer travelled to the scene with local police where they discovered two nets owned by Brendon John Taylor unattended – one on each side of the Porangahau river.

Shortly after seizing the nets the officers were approached by Taylor who not only admitted to having set the two nets, but he did so knowing it was an offence and chose to set them anyway.

Following this admission, DOC laid two charges against Taylor - one of using more than one net to catch white bait, and the other for being more than 10 meters from his whitebaiting net.

Taylor appeared at the Waipukurau District Court April 13 2018 where he pleaded guilty to both charges.

He received fines totalling $600.00 and was ordered to pay $130.00 in court costs. His fishing equipment was forfeited to the Crown.

Hawke’s Bay Operations Manager Connie Norgate says this was a good result as DOC had worked with police during the season in an effort to better educate fishers and curb illegal white baiting.

Whitebaiters can find more information on current regulations by picking up a regulations pamphlet at local sporting shops or by visitinghttp://www.doc.govt.nz/whitebaiting.

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