An amateur fishing charter company in Fiordland has been sentenced after illegally catching crayfish valued at up to $244,500 and serving them to customers.
Fiordland Cruises Limited was fined $60,000 during sentencing in the Invercargill District Court on one charge under the Fisheries Act following successful prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
The court granted relief from the forfeiture of the company’s vessel, Southern Secret, after payment of a redemption fee of $47,000.
Fisheries NZ compliance regional manager south Garreth Jay said MPI had received several complaints about charter vessel operators working in the Fiordland Marine Area – including Southern Secret.
"Allegations suggested seafood meals were being used to encourage paying passengers to take part in charter trips. Other concerns included questions about who was gathering the seafood – the charter operators or the paying guests."
An MPI investigation found that between January and October 2023, Fiordland Cruises ran 162 amateur fishing charters, during which 1630 crayfish were taken and served to paying guests onboard for lunch – despite not holding a commercial fishing licence.
The haul would have cost between $239,610 and $244,500 on the domestic market, based on a retail value of $147 to $150 per kilogram.
Jay said fishery officers who boarded the Southern Secret as part of the investigation found passengers who had not gone fishing being served crayfish for lunch.
"Guests reported that they did not take part in catching or taking the crayfish and that they saw the cray pots being cleared by the crew," he said.
"Furthermore – the skipper told us that along with the chef, they would lift the cray pots while passengers watched. This is illegal behaviour from a company that does not hold a commercial fishing licence and is not a Licensed Fish Receiver. A commercial business cannot catch fish recreationally and serve it to customers."
Jay said all charter operators had been provided with "clear information on the rules".
"We expect those rules to be followed."
He said MPI would act if evidence was found of fish being taken and used outside the quota management system for commercial purposes.
"The QMS ensures the sustainability of fishing activity and economic prosperity of fishery resources and legitimate commercial operators."
Any suspected illegal activity can be reported to MPI by calling 0800 4 POACHER line (0800 476 224).
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