A two-week black market paua poaching trial never got started today after sudden guilty pleas by three men who are now facing likely sentences of home detention and community work.
The pleas brought an early end to the prosecutions from the Ministry of Fisheries' Operations Te Oka and Sumner in which fisheries officers swooped on illegal operations in the two bays near Christchurch.
Seven men as well as some of the buyers were arrested but most have pleaded guilty at earlier hearings. The remaining trio pleaded guilty before Christchurch District Court Judge David Saunders today.
The ministry had intercepted 12,000 text messages among the group, and pared that down to 1500 relevant messages that were put forward as evidence.
These included messages showing the commercial nature of the poaching ring, including: "Today is our pay day"; "I'm going diving to get me some money"; and referring to getting "4kg each for the Chinese".
One message said: "By the time your car comes I will have a full sack." Before the court today were Soala Taavale, 44, Emele Pouiva, 32, and Amoaisasae Vaasiligalo, 36, all unemployed, who admitted charges of taking excess paua, possessing undersized paua, and possessing paua with intent to obtain a benefit.
The accused were seen at shellfish poaching ventures at Te Oka Bay on January 13, 2009, and another at Sumner the following month.
Ministry prosecutor Grant Fletcher said: "The dive expedition to Sumner is believed to be typical of at least 13 paua gathering expeditions throughout the period on the informations.
"The exact amount of paua taken over the summer is unable to be ascertained but on the two dives where the individuals were caught, almost 750 undersized paua was gathered." The Sumner expedition was covertly observed and photographed by fisheries officers.
Gear and vehicles had been seized after the first expedition. "Notwithstanding the search of their houses, and subsequent seizure of vehicles, the defendants continued to gather paua and on-sell it." Because of a previous conviction, Taavale has now been banned from all fishing activity for three years.
The defendants sold the paua by approaching people of Asian descent on the street and asking them if they would like to purchase paua. They got contact details and continued to contact them.
"Paua is particularly valued around the Chinese New Year as it is a delicacy for an occasion such as that," Mr Fletcher said.
Judge Saunders remanded the three for sentence on March 25 and asked for reports on their suitability for home detention or community detention. He also indicated they would be getting community work sentences.
The crown has been confiscating gear associated with the operation as the hearings have proceeded. It is now looking at forfeiture orders for the paua meat, clothing and dive gear, wetsuit, and a Mazda vehicle.
