MPI charges over moss imports proved

CHRISTCHURCH: A botanical artist who imported ornamental moss to decorate terrariums endangered New Zealand’s clean lakes and rivers, a court heard yesterday.

Raquel Elise Miranda (38) bought marimo moss balls (Cladophora aegagropila) on the AliExpress online store and got them posted to her Christchurch home.

The Brazilianborn trained biologist used the green algae in terrariums that she then sold at Christchurch farmers markets.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) alleged Miranda imported the moss balls illegally between February and June 2016 and knew they were unauthorised goods.

Yesterday, in the Christchurch District Court after a judgealone trial, she was found guilty on three charges that MPI prosecutor Grant Fletcher said related to obtaining a new organism and failing to inform MPI ‘‘as soon as practicable . . . of the presence of an organism not normally seen or otherwise detected in New Zealand’’ in breach of the Biosecurity Act. She was also found guilty of acquiring the unauthorised moss balls recklessly and of disposing of them.

A final charge alleging she made a misleading statement to officials was not accepted by Judge Jane Farish.

Moss balls were declared to be a new organism in 2006 and prohibited under the Biosecurity Act.

In an interview with MPI investigator Richard Notley, Miranda admitted buying moss balls. But she denied knowing it was illegal, and if she had known, she would never have done it. There was no way she would harm New Zealand’s waterways, she said.

Marimo moss balls had the potential to ruin New Zealand lakes and rivers, Judge Farish said.

If Miranda had taken proper steps to check the status of marimo moss balls, then she may have had a defence to the charges, the judge said.

Miranda will be sentenced on June 20. — NZME