A Northland iwi says it will ignore changes to the rules on recreational snapper fishing and continue to fish the way it has always done.
Photo: RNZ
The daily bag limit on the east coast of the North Island has been cut from nine to seven, and all snapper must now be at least 30cm long, up from 27cm.
The changes cover the Bay of Plenty to the Far North.
Ngati Kahu warned in September that it would defy the new rules and chief executive Anahera Herbert-Graves says nothing has changed.
She says the iwi sees no need to change the way it has been fishing for generations.
The Ministry for Primary Industries says fisheries officers have been out and about warning people for months leading up to the changes which are now in force.
Inshore fisheries manager Steve Halley says there will be a period of leniency to allow people to get used to the new rules.
Penalties for breaking the rules range from $250 to $20,000 and include the forfeiture of vessels.
