Coastwatch
Formats
Top 5
Series I 7x 1/2 hr each
Series II 13x 1/2 hr each
Series III 15x 1/2 hr each
Series IV 10x 1/2hr each
Series V 7x 1/2hr each
The two islands that make up mainland New Zealand have more coastline than the giant United States. It's a tiny country at the mercy of the sea. But these precious oceans, beaches and rivers are under threat: not only from local gangs, but also from highly organized international poachers. Join New Zealand's Ministry of Fisheries and the Maritime Police at the front-line, as they fight to protect an environmental treasure. Just don't expect them to back off from a confrontation, or turn away from danger.
Episode Overview
Episode 1
A high-speed chase to catch a Northland Paua poacher; abuse of customary fishing regulations; and Maritime Police go searching for weapons.
Episode 2M-Fish chase crayfish poachers near Gisborne; Maritime Police transport an entertaining prisoner; and tall tales from recreational fishermen in Whakatane.
Episode 3A covert surveillance operation to bust Paua poachers in a Northland trouble spot; and the Maritime Police make an overdue arrest.
Episode 4Fishery Officers face confrontation near Gisborne; looking for rogue trawlers in an RNZAF Orion over our Southern EEZ; and George and Henry come to the rescue on 90 Mile Beach.
Episode 5Maritime Police discover a Stowaway and Stacey's recreational fishing checks lead to an earful from an irate boatie.
Episode 6Maritime Police call in DOC for assistance with a big discovery and M-Fish act on a tip-off in Marlborough.
Episode 7M-Fish's Sonia and Jason get told tall tales; the Maritime Police call in the Police Dive team for help; and a rescue on the treacherous Manukau Bar.
Series 2
Episode 1Mfish bust an illegal fishing operation that leads to a midnight confrontation on the Hauraki Gulf.
Episode 2An undercover operation nets a notorious black marketeer and the police dive squad are called into action after a tragic accident on the Whangaparoa Harbour.
Episode 3Tonight: Tempers flare as an Mfish crackdown in Taranaki net a string of offenders while up in Northland a covert operation targets a paua poaching hotspot.
Episode 4A covert sting nets a paua poaching ring in Wellington, the maritime police are called to the rescue and a roadside checkpoint turns up a few surprises.
Episode 5A fishing trawler goes aground on the Manukau Bar, Mfish swoop on an illegal paua ring and there's a showdown in Northland.
Episode 6A group of poachers are caught on a remote Northland beach, the Maritime Police catch some boat thieves in the act and a sos from an injured yachtie.
Episode 7An Anniversary Day haul of thousands of illegal cockles and Mfish play cat and mouse with an an elusive poacher.
Episode 8The maritime police respond to an emergency call when a barge full of explosives breaks its mooring, the airforce fly into a cyclone to rescue a fishing trawler and mfish raid a series of auckland restaurants.
Episode 9Mfish and the Navy combine to bust a poaching ring in the Chatham Islands and the police face a mystery sinking in the Hauraki gulf.
Episode 10Mfish launch a two day operation on the Wairarapa coast and come up with some surprising results.
Episode 11An Mfish operation nets tall tales and small fish on the Waitemata harbour; and the hunt is on for toxic chemicals off the Northland Coast.
Episode 12A Tauranga fisherman spits the dummy when his boat is seized, in New Plymouth they learn that size does matter and Maritime police are called to a dare that's gone horribly wrong.
Episode 13A raid on a crayfish seller uncovers more than just black market fish and in Northland a MFish sting nets a group of poachers.
Series 3
Episode 1The maritime police go after three men suspected of stealing an outboard motor on the Waitemata harbour, and serving a summons turns ugly for fishery officers in Gisborne.
Episode 2Fishery officers bust paua poachers in Tolaga Bay, maritime police search a container ship for a dangerous fugitive, and a crazy day's cockle-gathering at an Auckland beach.
Episode 3Fishery officers uncover thousands of excess cockles, the Coastguard goes to the rescue of a sinking yacht, and the maritime police search for a missing fisherman.
Episode 4Fishery officers carry out surveillance on suspected paua poachers, M-Fish and the Navy join forces to investigate the activities of hoki trawlers, and the Coastguard goes to the rescue of a yacht with engine failure and sick crew.
Episode 5M-Fish and the Air Force join forces to investigate rock lobster fishing, the police dive squad oversees the scuttling of a former navy frigate, and the maritime police help to right a capsized catamaran.
Episode 6Fishery officers catch poachers with illegal crayfish in Fiordland and recreational fishers with excess and undersize snapper on the Hauraki Gulf.
Episode 7A look back at Coastwatch's most memorable moments, including an angry confrontation over illegal snapper, paua poachers in a high-speed quad-bike chase and a desperate attempt to save a stranded fishing boat.
Episode 8The Maritime Police are called to rescue a fisherman who has fallen down a cliff and MFish are involved in a tense stand off on the Manukau Harbour.
Episode 9Busting a Port Waikato fish-poaching ring, scuba divers hunt for smuggled cocaine and the Coastguard attempt to rescue an injured girl.
Episode 10The big Auckland Anniversary Day boat seizure; and fishery enforcement American-style.
Episode 11The Maritime Police battle a ferocious Cook Strait storm to reach a stranded yacht, and an unbelievable fishy story leads to a huge haul of illegal snapper.
Episode 12Tonight, a NZ Navy warship hunts for a suspicious deep-sea trawler; and Northland Fishery officers stake out a notorious paua-poaching spot.
Episode 13Panic stations on Wellington Harbour, and who gets the booby prize for tiny fish at a Manukau roadblock?
Episode 14Navy and Fishery officers target Northland crayfish poachers. A Fiordland skipper is nabbed red-handed, and something fishy in a takeaway freezer.
Episode 15Learning the hard way to count your cockles, cleaning up a Marine Conservation Area after a big storm; and speeding jet skiers try to outwit the Maritime Police.
Series 4
Episode 1Busting a major poaching ring in Wellington, a strange ritual in Fiordland and a diver pleads for his innocence
Episode 2Mfish chase run away cars at a check-point, Auckland Marine Police are on a mission to seize cannabis plots on Rangitoto Island and a fisherman with a not so lucky fish
Episode 3Divers caught red handed, Wellington Marine Police race to save a mans life and an argument over an undersized cod
Episode 4A stand off at an Mfish check point and Coastguard to the rescue of a sunken boat
Episode 5The good, the bad and the tiny at a Mfish checkpoint, busting a group with undersized snapper in Auckland and Wellington Marine Police save a stranded boat on the cook straight
Episode 6Cannabis at an Mfish checkpoint in Gisborne, the Airforce hunts for fishing boats over the Antarctic and spring fever in Fiordland brings the divers out in force
Episode 7Wellington marine Police save a mans life on New Years eve, a routine stop finds a bluff fisherman on the defense and learning the hard way to count cats eyes at an Auckland check point
Episode 8Hostility and tiny fish and at a West Auckland checkpoint and Auckland Coastguard have their hands full on Waitangi day
Episode 9Hidden snapper at an Auckland wharf, a routine fishery check gets a shirty response in Tauranga harbour and a dingy adrift without lifejackets gets a Wellington Dad a lesson in safe boating
Episode 10Fishery officers raid suspected ringleaders of a massive paua poaching group in Wellington
Series 5
Episode 1A heart-stopping rescue in Auckland, a mission to find a lost swimmer in Wellington and fishermen are caught red-handed.
Episode 2A fight to save a stranded yacht on Auckland's rugged West Coast, an opinionated bystander in Kaikoura and the Wellington Marine Police are on a mission to save a drifting boat.
Episode 3A medical emergency for the Coastguard, Stewart Island hunters are caught with dodgy oysters and divers at Cape Reinga are sprung with a haul of Paua.
Episode 4Offenders make a run for it in New Plymouth, Fisheries are out in force on the Kaikoura coast and the Airforce is on a mission to spot illegal fishing in Northland.
Episode 5A late night car chase, offenders in Northland entertain Fishery officers and the Auckland Marine Police are rushed off their feet with rescues.
Episode 6At stake out in Christchurch catches Paua gathers with an attitude, Navy divers hunt for mines in Noumea and a flat tyre fishes out some dodgy gatherers.
Episode 7A tip off of suspect activity on Wairarapa Coast, a search for a missing diver in the Coromandel and in Christchurch offenders are caught red handed.
