An Auckland fishing company has been ordered to hand over a $1 million fishing boat to the Crown after being convicted of fishing quota fraud.
Aramand Sea Fishing Ltd was convicted in Auckland District Court yesterday of offences against the fishing quota management system.
It failed to reportfish caught, predominately snapper and tarakihi.
Ministry of Fisheries district compliance manager Ian Bright said the company failed to file returns for several months last year when the boat was catching and landing fish.
The company, now in receivership, paid A$1 million ($1.14 million for the boat Aramand Sea at the beginning of last year.
When it went into receivership it owed the ministry more than $440,000 for fish caught but not covered by quota or annual catch entitlement.
"This sort of offending strikes at the heart of the quota management system," said Mr Bright.
"Commercial fishers must file monthly returns so that the ministry knows they are fishing legally and within their allotted quota or entitlement."
The frozen catch on board Aramand Sea worth $15,000 was also forfeited to the Crown.
