Four Men Caught Illegally Whitebaiting In Southland

• Four men were caught fishing outside legal hours at Waiau river mouth in Southland.
• Police and Department of Conservation conducted compliance checks as part of Operation Inaka.
• Whitebaiters are urged to follow fishing rules to avoid fines, court prosecution, or equipment seizure.

Police and the Department of Conservation apprehended four Southland men fishing illegally at the Waiau river mouth in a joint operation last night. The operation, held between 10 pm and 1 am, was part of "Operation Inaka", which aims to enforce whitebaiting regulations and crack down on illegal activities during the season.

The men were caught fishing outside the permitted hours. “Four local men were discovered fishing outside of the regulated hours while we were conducting our compliance checks last night,” said Senior Sergeant Pete Graham, Western Southland Area Response Manager. As a result, their nets were seized, and they face enforcement actions from the Department of Conservation.

Illegal whitebaiting can result in penalties, including fines of up to $400 or even court prosecution. In some cases, fishing equipment may be confiscated and destroyed, and any illegally caught whitebait returned to the river.

While this result was disappointing, earlier compliance checks on 18 August revealed no illegal activity. The authorities will continue to monitor whitebaiting until the end of the season to ensure compliance with the rules.

Whitebaiting is permitted only between 1 September and 30 October in New Zealand, with daily fishing hours restricted to 5 am to 8 pm (or 6 am to 9 pm during daylight saving). “We encourage all whitebaiters to educate themselves on the rules and regulations to ensure their 2024 whitebaiting season goes swimmingly,” police advised.

The public is also urged to report any suspicious activity by calling the police on 111 or anonymously via Crimestoppers.