This week, MPI Fisheries posted public advisories on its Facebook page about the importance of people knowing the law governing fishing in the North Otago coastal area.
Otago compliance manager Murray Pridham said people sometimes pleaded ignorance of the law when caught but "there was not much excuse for not knowing the rules these days''.
Incidents highlighted in the warning included illegal crayfish pots discovered by an MPI vessel off the coast of Oamaru in December 2015, the owners of which were yet to be identified, and 12 people caught with 121 paua in their possession in Kakanui in February.
Fishery officers lifted and inspected seven crayfish pots in December and reported a number of compliance issues, Mr Pridham said.
In Kakanui, fisheries officers found a family group - six children and six adults - with 121 paua in their possession.
The legal daily limit is 10 ordinary paua over 125mm and 10 yellow-foot paua over 80mm.
Mr Pridham said the adults were each fined $250.
The group lived inland and it was their first time fishing in the area.
He said people should familiarise themselves with the rules governing their area before going fishing, or risk a fine.
The rules are available on MPI Fisheries' website, an app can be downloaded and there are signs along the coastline.
