Maori customary fishing claims have been rejected in a court case which featured the electronic tagging and tracing of fish by the Ministry of Fisheries.
Four Northlanders were yesterday found guilty of offences relating to the illegal catching and sale of fish.
Judge Thomas Everitt delivered his final decision in the Kaikohe District Court, in a case relating to the December 1999 seizure of the 13m fishing vessel Camelot and freshly caught snapper.
The raid followed months of surveillance by Ministry of Fisheries officers off Northland's east coast, and included the electronic tagging - and subsequent tracing by the ministry - of snapper landed by the group.
Judge Everitt said all the charges against the four accused had been proven.
Spencer Samuels, of Matauri Bay, was found guilty on 42 charges relating to 14 fishing trips in the vessel Camelot between February 3, 1999, and December 12, 1999.
On each trip he was found under the Fisheries Act 1983 to have taken fish without quota, used an unregistered vessel, and taken fish without a permit.
His wife, Lorraine Joy Samuels, was found guilty of 12 charges - relating to 12 of the 14 fishing trips - of unlawful possession of fish for sale.
Phillip Charles Bristow was found guilty of seven charges of unlawful possession of fish for sale, relating to seven of the fishing trips.
His partner Ripeka Nathan was found guilty of one charge of unlawful possession of fish for sale.
Judge Everitt said the investigation by the Ministry of Fisheries was carefully orchestrated. The court had been presented with an extremely strong case which had virtually gone unanswered by the accused, he said.
The court was told how on December 9, 1999, fisheries officers boarded the vessel Camelot and electronically tagged 103 snapper - unbeknown to Samuels.
The following day officers tracked the fish to a local business, where 28 of the 40 fish on the premises were identified as being those previously electronically tagged.
Hohepa Mapiria addressed the court on behalf of the Samuels' and said Maori had the right to take fish. He also outlined the importance and role of fish to Maori.
Judge Everitt thanked Mr Mapiria for assisting the court, but said the Fisheries Act applied to each of the accused.
The quartet was remanded for sentencing in the Kaikohe District Court, on March 7.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
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