Fisheries officers face scourge of illegal set nets in Auckland, New Zealand

Fisheries officers have called illegal set netting in the Auckland area a "scourge". They say staff are retrieving and dismantling around six illegal nets a week, and that the nets are frequently set up in closed areas. Staff are also urging recreational anglers using rods to make sure they know the rules, saying there's "no excuse" for taking undersized snapper. Newshub went along with Fisheries officers on a patrol of the Hauraki Gulf. In total, 23 inspections of recreational vessels were carried out during the half-day operation. They found three non-compliant vessels, plus fishers with undersized snapper. Nine years ago, the legal minimum size for snapper in the fishery zone known as Snapper 1 increased from 27cm to 30cm. Snapper 1 incorporates the Hauraki Gulf. However, some who spoke to fisheries staff didn't appear to know anything had changed. North Harbour District team leader Glen Blackmore told Newshub that's "not an excuse". "They should [know the rules] and they need ...