A view towards Cape Brett.
Photo: Kennedy Warne

A commercial fishing boat has been caught in a marine protected area in the Bay of Islands during a crackdown on vessels flouting no-fishing rules.

The Northland Regional Council said the boat was spotted within the Rākaumangamanga Rāhui Tapu marine protected area, which is located near Cape Brett’s Deepwater Cove.

The vessel was initially reported by an off-duty council contractor.

Although the fishing boat was not seen removing marine life, Fisheries NZ confirmed its fishing gear was engaged 250 metres inside the boundaries of the protected area.

A spokesman said the council had also received reports the same vessel had been seen cruising close to the boundaries of the Mimiwhangata Rāhui Tapu marine protected area, about 30km further south in the Whangārei District.

The vessel had been served with an abatement notice, which was an order to stop. Ignoring an abatement notice can lead to fines and possibly prosecution.

The warning comes as the council vows to starts stricter enforcement of no-fishing rules.

Chairman Geoff Crawford urged commercial and recreational fishers to help protect sensitive ecosystems around Rākaumangamanga and Mimiwhangata by respecting the no-take rules.

“The marine ecosystems in these areas are in trouble,” he said.

“Tipa/scallop populations have collapsed, kūtai/green-lipped mussel beds have disappeared, hāpuku numbers have significantly reduced, and we’re seeing kina barrens resulting from the decrease in tāmure/snapper and kōura/crayfish,” he said.

“No-take marine protected areas are the most effective tool we have to restore ecosystems and fish populations to a more resilient state. But we need the community’s support.”

Crawford said council was partnering with local hapū to protect the rāhui tapu marine protected areas with warranted officer surveillance patrols out on the water most days during the summer holidays.

The patrols will be carried out by specially recruited and trained RMA warranted officers alongside kaitiaki from local hapū Te Uri O Hikihiki ki Whangaruru, Te Whānau Whero ki Whananaki, and the hapū of Te Rāwhiti, Ngāti Kuta and Patu Keha.

The rāhui tapu marine protected areas are around the Mimiwhangata Peninsula (Mimiwhangata Rāhui Tapu) and from Maunganui Bay (Deep Water Cove) to Opourua (Oke Bay) in the Bay of Islands (Rākaumangamanga Rāhui Tapu).

No fishing or diving for seafood is permitted in these areas.

Exceptions to the no-take rules include kina harvesting and activities associated with restoration, research and tikanga such as customary fishing.

Crawford encouraged the public to report breaches of the no-fishing rules.

“The recent incident with the commercial fishing vessel shows how important eye-witness reports are for protecting these sensitive areas. We can use the information we get to help officers target the problem areas, as well as taking direct enforcement action where appropriate,” he said.

Penalties under the Resource Management Act range from fines of several hundred dollars for breaking the rules or not providing information to a warranted enforcement officer, through to imprisonment for up to two years or a fine up to $300,000. The maximum fine for a company is $600,000.

The fishing boat was spotted on 14 October and the notice was issued on 7 November.

A breach of the no-fishing rules can be reported or a view of the protected area boundaries seen [www.nrc.govt.nz/marineareas here].