10 people are facing prosecution after being caught with large hauls of undersized Paua.

Ministry for Primary Industries compliance officers conducted a three day operation near Kawerau, in the Bay of Plenty, as part of a summer programme enforcing catch limit.

The Ministry says in the most extreme case, a group of people had 250 paua between them, all undersized.

District Compliance Manager Northland Darren Edwards says it puts future paua stocks at risk, as once an area is stripped it takes years to recover.