Police discovered a pistol and ammunition after a fisher allegedly dumped pāua into the ocean while being inspected in Hawke’s Bay yesterday.
Officers said they stopped the man’s vehicle at around 11.55am on Tuesday as part of a routine compliance check under the Fisheries Act, within the marine reserve area at Blackhead Beach.
Fisheries New Zealand district manager of fisheries compliance Mike Sutton said during the inspection, the man ran off and threw his haul of pāua into the ocean.
“We seized the person’s vehicle and they will likely face charges under the Fisheries Act, once we’ve established how much pāua was taken.”
Police said the man was arrested for obstruction and that a subsequent search of his vehicle uncovered a firearm and ammunition.
He has since been charged with unlawful possession of a pistol and ammunition and was expected to appear in court.
“Charges relating to the fisheries matter have been referred to the Ministry for Primary Industries [MPI],” a police spokesperson said.
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