Police in Northland are inviting crab fishers from Auckland's Asian communities to a beach safety day after several rescues and a spate of drownings.
Uretiti beach south of Whangarei has become a popular spot for the mainly Chinese fishers to net crabs.
But police said the beach could be treacherous, and three crab fishers had drowned there in the past two years - including one this week.
They have invited crab netters to a seminar in Auckland next month, to learn how to fish safely from Northland beaches.
It will be followed by a family day at Uretiti the following day, with practical demonstrations.
A shore search continues today for a crab fisher who fell out of his inflatable boat 400m off Uretiti on Monday.
