MPI spokesman, Adam Plumstead, says a recent operation targeted at people taking sea life from the reserve, resulted in 16 people being caught allegedly committing offences under the Marine Reserves Act.
'There are absolutely no exceptions to the rules around taking sea life from marine reserves which are a protected environment for a very good reason,' says Mr Plumstead.
'The Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve protects over 2,400 hectares of coastline and its marine life from any threats to its existence and when people intentionally disturb that, and take marine life from this area, they are destroying this very special habitat.'
Read the full media release on the MPI website.
Department of Conservation of New Zealand published this content on 03 January 2018 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 02 January 2018 23:29:01 UTC.
Original documenthttp://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2018/zero-tolerance-for-poaching-at-gisborne-marine-reserve/
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