Three authorities are still investigating the illegal harvesting of seaweed at Brighton earlier this month.
The Ministry of Fisheries, the Otago Regional Council and the Dunedin City Council are all compiling reports after Brighton sand dunes were allegedly damaged by a truck and front-end loader owned by seaweed harvester Simon Stott.
All three authorities have indicated they are investigating the matter but it will be some time until their reports are completed.
"There's no immediate environmental threat, so it's not a pressing matter," DCC resource consents manager Alan Worthington said this week.
"It could be months before we have completed our report."
ORC environmental services manager Martin King also confirmed the damaged sand dunes incident was still under investigation, but could not say when it would be completed.
The council was also investigating why Mr Stott did not obtain resource consent to remove the seaweed, resource management director Dr Selva Selvarajah said.
Ministry of Fisheries inshore fisheries team leader Allen Frazer told the ODT from Wellington this week no commercial harvesting should be happening in the area.
"Commercial harvesting of beachcast seaweed in the Brighton/Taieri Mouth area is prohibited," he said.
The harvesting has also been condemned by University of Otago Department of Marine Science scientist and East Otago taiapure management committee member Dr Chris Hepburn, who said the practice "had serious implications for the local tourism and fisheries industries".
Attempts by the Otago Daily Times to contact Mr Stott, who reportedly has not returned to the beach since the matter came to light on January 10, have been unsuccessful.
