It is illegal to sell crayfish caught recreationally. A subsequent MPI investigation called Operation Uncle discovered sales of illegally caught crayfish from the Waimārama area, between December 2018 and March 2019. Hawkins pleaded guilty to 12 charges under the Fisheries Act in relation to 97 illegally harvested crayfish, and on Thursday appeared in Hastings District Court, where he was sentenced to 4½ months’ home detention. Two other people are involved – one has pleaded not guilty to similar fisheries charges and the other person is yet to enter pleas. At the time, the wholesale value of the 97 crayfish Hawkins sold was about $4801.50. Hawkins received between $1455 and $1940 on the black market.