Facebook used as black market for fish

Some Marlborough fishermen are turning to social media to sell their fish on the black market.

Two cases have been identified by the Ministry for Primary Industries this year. A further case was identified last year.

The ministry’s senior communications adviser, Jim Flack, said one fisherman was caught after he tried to unload his catch using Facebook.

‘‘A young man went out fishing and caught some kahawai,’’ he said.

‘‘He tried selling them on Facebook and MPI found out and shut him down.’’

Social media were an easy way to reach a larger audience in a shorter time, which made it harder to keep track of, Flack said.

‘‘It is being monitored at a national, regional and district level. All illegal sales are followed up and dealt with by way of warning or prosecution.’’

Selling fish on the black market in Blenheim was becoming more popular, he said.

Ministry compliance officers caught 43 people during an undercover sting targeting crayfish traders in May last year.

Ten cars, five boats and a tractor were seized during the oper- ation, which was based in Blenheim, Kaikoura and Christchurch.

The retail price of the crays was $45 each and black market traders were selling them for $10 to $15.

A case in August last year saw a Blenheim man prosecuted for selling crayfish from his home.

Seven crayfish were found at his house and 19 at his workplace after police searched each property.

He sold the crays for $40 each and was fined $2000 and ordered to pay back the money from his illegal sales.

Ministry compliance director Dean Baigent said the internet was becoming a way for businesses to peddle their products and fishermen were catching onto the trend.

‘‘Once upon a time someone offered you some cheap crays and paua at the pub. Now people are getting Facebook alerts.’’

People who bought black mar- ket fish were putting fisheries at risk just as much as those who sold the fish illegally, Baigent said.

‘‘If there are no willing buyers there is no black market. If you are buying a few cheap crays, paua or a bag of fillets, you’re encouraging the illegal fishers to take more.

‘‘It’s a vicious cycle and our fisheries and those who use them legitimately end up losing.’’

Using social media to sell fish illegally first came to light in 2012 when four cases of black market trading were seen online.

This number quickly grew to 39 cases in 2013, 173 cases in 2014 and 117 cases at the end of August this year.

Black market traders faced up to five years in prison and a hefty $250,000 fine if they were caught selling their recreational catch.

Illegal harvesting and trading of marine life can be reported to the Ministry for Primary Industries on 0800 4POACHER.