NZ fisherman fined for misreporting

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A New Zealand company and its director have been fined $35,000 for misreporting catches.

Dennis Graham Roach, sole director of Blenheim based fishing company D and N Fishing Ltd pleaded guilty to making false and misleading statements on fishing returns and documents relating to fishing trips made over a 17 month period from May 2010 to September 2011.

Mr Roach was fined $35,000 and was ordered to forfeit both of his fishing vessels, FV Victory 11 and FV Kathryn to the crown, with a total of $33,000 to be paid for their redemption. His company, D and N Fishing Ltd was also convicted on 38 Section 230 charges and discharged.

D and N Fishing Limited operates two trawlers around the top of the South Island and the lower North Island. Mr Roach was found to have been misreporting his catch as being caught in another quota area, as well as failing to declare fish that had been landed and sold. The Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) estimated that in total the offending involves between 51-57 tonnes of fish, with a deemed value of $77,913.

MPI Nelson/Marlborough District Compliance Manager Ian Bright said, “A total disregard for the QMS as revealed by this operation places the sustainability of our fisheries at risk. This result shows that the Ministry will not tolerate this type of offending.”