Department of Conservation rangers joined forces with the police, the Waimakariri District Council and the Christchurch City Council to patrol local whitebaiting spots.
DOC Mahaanui Operations Manager Andy Thompson says six alleged offences were observed.
These will be followed with possible outcomes ranging from no further action, a warning letter or a fine. Serious or repeat offences can lead to a prosecution.
‘‘It was great to have the police involved.
‘‘What’s really pleasing this season, is that 95% of the fishers were adhering or wanting to adhere to the rules and are out there enjoying the rivers and catching a feed.
‘‘Small pockets of tension arise due to the commercial value of whitebait and that’s generally where more serious deliberate offending occurs,’’ he says.
Thompson says he would like to see whitebaiters do more to advocate for, and protect the environment, near the whitebait habitats.
‘‘There are incidents of riverbank modification, and this is not something we want to see.
‘‘I’d love to see fishers getting involved in restoration projects and habitat protection.
‘‘They are out there enjoying the environment. ‘‘We want to encourage them to actively give back to nature.
‘‘We see many in the hunting and tramping space working actively in conservation, and it makes a real difference to the work we do at DOC,’’ he says.
Thompson says Ngai Tūāhuriri is taking a leadership role in this space.
‘‘They have customary fishing rights and are active as kaitiaki (guardians).
‘‘We want all fishers to see themselves as guardians to protect the fishing resource and surrounding habitats for future generations.’’
The whitebait season runs from September 1 to October 30 in New Zealand, with fishing permitted from 6am to 9pm.
