Three Dunedin men are likely to face prosecution after fishery officers located and seized two bags containing 149 shucked paua hidden in rocks at Tomahawk beach in Dunedin on Monday.
The seizure was the biggest officers in the district, which covers the coast from the Rangitata River mouth to Long Point in the Catlins, had made in recent times, Ministry of Fisheries district compliance manager Murray Pridham, of Dunedin, said.
After being tipped off by members of the public, the officers intercepted the three men, one aged 23 and the other two in their 30s, as they left the beach.
The men, who were known to have been diving in the area that day and were said to be acting suspiciously, were spoken to and had their fishing boat seized.
It is believed the 40kg of paua was taken from further around the Otago Peninsula.
The quantity involved was concerning because it was "getting beyond a big feed", which raised the question of what it was intended for, Mr Pridham said.
The daily limit for paua is 10 per person.
The maximum penalty for exceeding the daily paua limit is a $250,000 fine plus forfeiture of any property used to obtain the paua.
