Dozens of fishermen reportedly breaking new whitebaiting rules at popular Canterbury site

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

Department of Conservation staff will be patrolling Canterbury’s whitebaiting hotspots amid reports some frequent fishermen are reluctant to follow the new rules.

In June, the then acting Conservation Minister Ayesha Verrall announced changes to whitebaiting regulations, which had last been reviewed in 1990.

The changes, to be phased in over three years, include a shorter season, new regulations and size limits on fishing gear – fixed nets a maximum of three metres long and 20m apart – and restrictions to fishing only in estuaries and near river mouths.

But one Canterbury whitebaiter, a regular around the Waimakariri River mouth who did not want to be named, said he saw upwards of a dozen rule-breakers in the area every day.

The biggest issue, he said, was people using oversized fishing gear – usually set-nets over six metres in length – although he had been told about others fishing past the 8pm limit.

The man said he had made multiple reports to the Department of Conservation (DOC), and had sent photos and car registration numbers, but little had been done in terms of enforcing the rules.

“The rules are in place for a reason ... If they’re doing it here, others are probably doing it elsewhere [too].”

DOC’s Mahaanui operations manager, Andy Thompson. said the new regulations were clear and readily available, and it was disappointing to hear some were not following them.

DOC is undertaking a series of compliance patrols, he said, which include weekends and early-mornings.

Rangers will focus on popular whitebaiting spots including the Waimakariri River mouth.

Thompson encouraged people to phone in if they saw others breaking the rules. All calls would be logged, he said, and used to identify potential problem spots for the next patrol.

When people are not complying, rangers can take either an educational or compliance approach. That could include a $400 fine – or up to $800 if that fine was appealed, or not paid.