New Zealand's largest fishing company Sealord has been ordered to forfeit a $16 million vessel and fined $24,000 for bottom trawling in a protected area.
A Sealord fishing vessel at sea. (file photo) Photo: RNZ / Allison Hossain
Vessel master Bolen Terric Goomes and first mate Thomas Adrian Pope were also fined $7500, and $5000, respectively. The proceeds from the catch - about $100,000 - was also forfeited.
The Ministry of Primary Industries laid charges after the Ocean Dawn bottom trawled for hoki in the Chatham Rise, which is a protected area.
Over five illegal trawls in 2018, the vessel caught about 1.3 tonnes of sponges and bycatch along with 40 tonnes of fish.
Sealord said the offending was unintentional and the result of human error.