Over the past two decades, fewer vessels have trawled the South Pacific’s high seas. Companies from only one country have kept at it, an island nation with a green reputation: Aotearoa New Zealand. Most of the trawling is legal, for now, but in late August, a New Zealand court convicted a subsidiary of Talley’s Group […]
Sanford to forfeit $20m vessel, fined for bottom trawling in restricted area
23 Feb, 2021 04:27 AM
3 minutes to read
NZ Herald
Commercial fishing company Sanford Limited has been ordered to forfeit a $20 million vessel, and fined $36,000 for bottom trawling in a restricted area.
Sanford was convicted on three representative charges relating to fishing in the Puysegur Benthic Protection Area, west of Stewart Island.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) found the vessel – the San Waitaki – to have illegally bottom trawled in the Puysegur Benthic Protection Area while targeting orange roughy during fishing trips in 2017 and 2018.
Proceeds from the sale of fish taken in the Puysegur Benthic Protection Area in 2018 – amounting to $150,720 – were also forfeited as well as fishing equipment valued at $5,280.