Sanford to forfeit $20m vessel on fishing charge

WELLINGTON: Commercial fishing company Sanford has been ordered to forfeit a $20 million vessel and fined $36,000 for bottom trawling in a restricted area.

Sanford was convicted on three representative charges relating to fishing in the Puysegur Benthic Protection Area, west of Stewart Island.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) found the vessel — San Waitaki — to have illegally bottom trawled in the Puysegur Benthic Protection Area while targeting orange roughy during fishing trips in 2017 and 2018.

Proceeds from the sale of fish taken in the Puysegur Benthic Protection Area in 2018 — amounting to $150,720 — were also forfeited, as well as fishing equipment valued at $5280. In addition, vessel master Grant Clifford Walker (51) was convicted on two representative charges and fined $11,250, and first mate William Dessiou Lash (46) was convicted on one representative charge and fined $5400.

Walker was found to be in control of the vessel during eight trawls and Lash was in control of the vessel during four trawls.