Authorities probe illegal pipi harvesting at Stockton Beach, where up to a tonne is taken nightly, risking recovery from past overfishing.

Authorities are investigating allegations of large-scale pipi harvesting at Stockton Beach, where truckloads are reportedly taken before dawn and sold for cash. The pipi population has been recovering after past overfishing, but locals fear the current activity could reverse that progress. Harvesters may be removing up to a tonne of pipis nightly, selling them for $20 per kilo, possibly to Chinese buyers. Though some operators hold valid commercial permits, the Department of Primary Industries is probing whether quotas and real-time reporting are being followed. A 2011 ban on commercial harvesting was imposed due to declining numbers, and annual catch limits are based on scientific assessments.