Date:  22 January 2009

Flagrant disregard for the boundaries of the Eastern Bay of Plenty’s only marine reserve, Te Paepae o Aotea (Volkner Rocks), has tarred the Whakatane Tuna Tournament.

Department of Conservation operations boat, Matariki, spent the first day of the tournament out patrolling this special and protected area of water. Within half an hour of arriving at the reserve, DOC staff had talked to three boats which were actively fishing inside the reserve. By the end of the day they had talked to four. What frustrated staff the most, was that three of these boats appear to be operated by locals who should definitely know better.

Read full article from the Department of Conservation.

Filed under: Ali Perkins, News/Current Affairs