The Ministry of Fisheries says it's had an increase of 15% in the number of calls to a poaching hotline this summer compared to last year.
Nearly 1600 calls have been made to the 0800 Poacher line since the ministry launched a campaign on 15 December.
After a tip-off in January, fisheries officers caught three men in South Taranaki with 701 paua between them - more than 23 times the daily limit.
