Praise for Local's Help to Net Poachers

Fish & Game Officers in Rotorua have praised a keen-eyed local who spotted trout poachers and gave them an ultimatum.

The pair who scooped up four spawning trout in a landing net were seen by a member of the public who approached them and said: “You can either wait for Fish & Game officers – or I can ring the police.”

Fish and Game Officer Anthony van Dorp says “we’re grateful for the action taken by this man who had seen similar goings on in the past, and obviously decided ‘enough’s enough.’ ”

“While we are always grateful for tip offs from the public when they see poachers in action – we’re not urging people to confront them and potentially put themselves in danger. If you see something suspicious phone us on 0800 POACHING (0800-762 244).”

Anthony van Dorp says that in this case, the pair decided they would rather be dealt with by Fish & Game, and waited until officers arrived.

The two have pleaded guilty in the Rotorua District Court, each man charged with taking spawning fish with an angler’s landing net from a small Lake Rotoiti tributary stream, and taking sports fish without a licence. They were fined $700 each plus costs.

The sentences serve as a firm deterrent, says Anthony, showing again that the courts take trout poaching seriously. He says it is also a case which demonstrates that people who think they’ll “get away with it in a fairly remote place away from prying eyes” can be caught and dealt with.