arresting two fishermen in connection with an investigation into the use of the traps.

On Tuesday officers arrested Marine Resources Board member James Parris and his brother Noel and confiscated their equipment and vessel.

The two fishpots found yesterday had hefty catches inside. One had 15 lobsters while the other had a 50 pound rockfish.

Government's Fisheries Department alerted Police to the pots which were in waters off the reefs of the North Shore.

The pots were made of reinforced plastic wire that can withstand the rigours of the ocean environment better than simple metal wire.

The hardy construction meant the traps could have indiscriminately killed sea life for several years if they had broken free from their moorings.