Fishery officers regularly patrol the coastline to ensure the rules are being followed. Spooner’s illegal trading of recreational catch is one of several ways people can breach fishery rules and was detected through his online presence. Fishery officers stopped the pair while doing catch inspections at Waihau Beach, also known as Loisels Beach, about 40km north of Gisborne. Fishery officers say the most common excuse they hear is that people “don’t know the rules”. The haul of 422 pāua taken from Kaikōura’s south coast in August after fishery officers stopped a car and found the seafood.

Source: New Zealand Herald December 27, 2025 20:37 UTC