11 Jun 2020

Illegal fishing reports keep DOC busy after lockdown

From Checkpoint, 6:18 pm on 11 June 2020

A spate of alleged illegal fishing near Wellington post-lockdown has kept Department of Conservation staff and coast watchers busy over the past few weeks.

There are two marine reserves in the Wellington region - Taputeranga Marine Reserve along the south coast and Kāpiti Marine Reserve by Kāpiti Island.

Monitoring these is the responsibility of Marine Reserve Ranger Leon Berard - he's been in this role for two seasons.

Checkpoint reporter Logan Church and cameraman Dom Thomas were invited to join one of Leon's shore patrols. They filed this report.