Navy intercepts vessels over illegal catch

The crew of a vessel, alleged to be operating illegally, haul in their catch. Photo / Supplied

The New Zealand navy has intercepted fishing vessels with illegal catch in the Southern Ocean and is seeking permission to board them.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully said this afternoon that the offshore patrol vessel HMNZS Wellington had found two vessels flagged to Equatorial Guinea fishing illegally and had put them "on notice".

A vessel alleged to be fishing illegally (foreground) is intercepted by the New Zealand navy offshore patrol vessel HMNZS Wellington. Photo / Supplied

"New Zealand is in touch with Equatorial Guinea and is asking permission to board the vessels, if their flag status is verified," Mr McCully said.

The Government has asked Interpol to issue a "purple notice" for each vessel, which would alert their illegal actions to 190 member countries in an attempt to stop them offloading their catch at any port.

Mr McCully said the vessels were "well-known, repeat offenders" linked to Spanish interests.

"We have alerted the Spanish Government to what we have discovered," he said.

The New Zealand navy had gathered photographic and video footage of the vessels' illegal fishing, which would assist with legal action against the owners, Mr McCully said.

New Zealand runs regular patrols using its OPVs and air force Orion in the Southern Ocean, where fishing is regulated by the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.

The fishing season begins on December 1 and runs until November or until allocated fishing quotas for toothfish, krill and other species are reached.