Prosecution of fishers hailed

Foreign Minister Murray McCully said action would be taken against 50 Spanish crew. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Prosecutions against those behind fishing vessels that tangled with the Royal NZ Navy over summer have been hailed as a "giant step forward" by Foreign Minister Murray McCully.

Spain will lay charges against those responsible for the ships Kunlun, Yongding and Songhua, which are associated with a Spanish-linked syndicate, Vidal Armadores.

In January, HMNZS Wellington ended eight weeks patrolling the seas around Antarctica - the last fortnight pursuing the vessels, which were photographed hauling in toothfish using banned gillnets.

Mr McCully said action would be taken against 50 Spanish crew; shell companies linked to the operations; and, companies involved in the supply and distribution of catch, or provision of services to the vessels or operators.

While it was too early to declare victory, he said, the prosecutions were "a major step forward" and the result of unprecedented co-operation between a range of governments.

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"Five of the seven vessels that have regularly fished in the Southern Ocean over the past five years have been detained this year, and a further one has sunk."