Recreational boaties are still being caught out by Cable Protection Zones and Marine Protected Areas, and the consequences can be severe. Maritime lawyer Peter Dawson outlines how even experienced skippers have faced heavy fines, vessel seizure, and possible forfeiture after unintentionally anchoring or fishing inside restricted zones.
Cable Protection Zones exist to safeguard critical undersea infrastructure carrying power and communications. In places like the Hauraki Gulf and Cook Strait, fishing and anchoring are strictly prohibited. Enforcement is active, penalties are significant, and liability is strict. That means intent does not matter. If you are in the zone, the offence is established.
Dawson highlights real cases where vessels drifted across boundaries due to wind or tide, skippers misread chart plotters while zoomed in, or relied on outdated tracks. Fines have ranged from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars, with much higher penalties possible if damage occurs. Marine Reserves operate under similar rules, with equally tough enforcement.
The key message is simple. Know where the boundaries are, set clear exclusion and buffer zones on your plotter, and never fish or anchor right up to the line.
Read the full article on Boating New Zealand here:
https://www.boatingnz.co.nz/2026/01/cable-protection-zones-and-marine-protected-areas/