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Photo: NZME / composite
After gathering crayfish and pΔua with his mates during a dive trip at a remote South Island beach, Joshua Spooner took to social media with a picture of a seafood in a chiller bag and the words "30 each, big ones 50β³.
The page was called Cray Cray and he took care not to link back to his personal profile because he knew it was illegal to sell recreational catch.
But, it wasn't long until eagle-eyed MPI fishery officers were on his case.
Now, the Nelson man is one of 26 people who were caught in 2025 illegally trading seafood gathered recreationally, figures provided to NZME under the Official Information Act show.
The rules say only seafood caught by a person with a valid commercial fishing permit can be sold legally.
MPI director of fishery compliance Steve Ham said species caught included shellfish such as pΔua, rock lobster (crayfish), kina, and oysters and finfish.
Ham said of the 26 people caught, one was charged, 21 received a non-prosecution outcome such as education or warning, and decisions are still in the pipeline on how to proceed with the four people suspected of acting illegally.
He said prosecution was reserved for serious cases or when "lesser interventions fail to change behaviour".
Photo: Fisheries New Zealand
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