The Otago Fish and Game Council has found a way to make rental car companies take notice when there are problems getting tourists to pay fines for illegal fishing.
The council's operations manager, Ian Hadland, said yesterday the council was tired of getting little co-operation from the companies, and it had begun threatening to seize the rental vehicles involved.
''We get more co-operation out of them recently by starting a conversation with: `we are about to seize one of your rental vehicles as it is being used by some offenders we have just apprehended','' Mr Hadland said.
''Of course, we don't seize it, even though we have the power to do so.
''But the mere thought of it gets them to sit up and take notice.''
Mr Hadland was commenting in the wake of Queenstown Lakes District Council concerns over rental car companies not exercising their right to bill the credit cards of tourists camping illegally.
''We have had similar unhelpful service from rental vehicle companies, not really interested in helping us recover unpaid fines or catch up with offenders.
''They are reluctant to pass on details, like email addresses, for issues to be followed up.''
He acknowledged the Fish and Game Council had more powers than the Queenstown council to impose fines and seize vehicles.
''A weak approach and lacklustre follow-up just leads to decreased compliance rates.
''Word gets around quick if you're not firm.
''That's my take-home message.''
The Fish and Game Council tried to follow up on every offence very quickly, Mr Hadland said.
''We don't give up.
''Licence holders thank us for this dogged approach.
''The last thing they want to see is freeloading tourists helping themselves to fisheries they have paid a licence fee to maintain and improve.''
Last year, a group in a camper van paid $1500 in fines hours before they boarded a plane to leave the country, Mr Hadland said.
He knew some ''cheaper rental vans'' came equipped with angling gear, ''but no instructions about freshwater regulations and licensing''.
While the problem had not been as bad this year, in the past quite a few tourist anglers thought they could fish ''wherever they like without a licence''.
