KEY POINTS:
A commercial fisherman banned by a court from fishing, diving and even collecting shellfish for the next three years says he is being treated more harshly than a drug runner or murderer.
Larry Grigson, 53, cannot fish from a boat, a beach or a ramp even if his
catch is solely for himself.
He has also been banned from selling fish or diving for seafood of any kind and will not be allowed to collect any shellfish.
Judge P.W. Cooper last week imposed the three-year ban on Grigson at Manukau District Court and fined him $3000 for failing to comply with fisheries requirements.
Grigson's company, Seafood Express, ran a stall at the Panmure market which had been visited by fishery officers for a routine inspection.
Fishery officers found there was no documentation on hand to show the fish had been legally caught and reported. They then tried on several occasions to meet Grigson to inspect this documentation but he regularly refused to meet them.
But the 53-year-old said a meeting he had arranged with fisheries officers was refused and the further delays were due to him being unable to afford a lawyer or to find legal aid for some time.
The decision had left him "pretty devastated" and he was likely to appeal after he looked at submissions made to the court by fisheries officers.
"There are pitiful penalties for drug runners and murderers but for not attending an interview with fisheries officers you get wasted," said Grigson.
"In particular cases it may be quite justified, particularly with some people ripping off the system, but I have been done for not being able to attend an interview."
He said he had been involved in the fishing industry for the past 30 years and the ban would "definitely be felt" by his family.
"I haven't actually taken stock of everything but all options will be looked at to rectify the situation.
"There are other options, you just keep plugging away but my grandchildren are part Ngapuhi and as tangata whenua who's going to teach them to fish?"
Ministry of Fisheries district compliance manager Ian Bright said 20 commercial and recreational fishers had received the three-year bans since June 2004.
Mr Bright said if Grigson breached the ban he faced up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $100,000.
