Sealord Group distances itself from illegal fishing inquiry

Nelson-based seafood giant Sealord Group is distancing itself from an inquiry into illegal fishing, after it was named by the Ministry of Fisheries as one of five companies implicated.

The companies were named yesterday as the ministry wound up Operation Purse, a sting involving two Tauranga-based fishing boats.

The ministry alleges the companies breached fisheries law by failing to accurately record about 170 tonnes of fish caught by the boats Matariki II and Tawera II. They were fishing under permits held by the five companies.

The other companies named were Nelson Fisheries, based in Wellington, and the Tauranga-based Pelco NZ, Matariki and Tawera Fishing.

Sealord chief executive Doug McKay stressed yesterday that none of his company's fleet, contractors or charter boats were under investigation.

"We are assisting the ministry with inquiries into a third party that fished against a Sealord permit last year and allegedly provided us with inaccurate catch reports, which were filed under our name as permit holders," he said.

The ministry's Tauranga district compliance manager, Brendon Mikkelsen, said today the ministry expected to decide in the next few days whether charges would be laid.

Mr Mikkelsen said Sealord's permit was used by the Tawera II, to catch fish such as kahawai.

The Tawera II was operated by Tawera Fishing, he said. The alleged misreporting of catches happened over an extended period of time.

It was also alleged that the Tawera II fished from October 2003 to January 2004 while it was unregistered, unlawfully taking about 950 tonnes of fish, Mr Mikkelsen said.

As one of its permit holders, Sealord was responsible for ensuring the boat was registered and fishing returns were accurately completed.

"You just can't say 'here have my permit, now go for it'," Mr Mikkelsen said.

"The players involved have been in the business for a number of years."

Mr McKay said Sealord would not make any further comment until the investigation was finished.

Mr Mikkelsen said the principals of each company had been given the opportunity to explain the alleged discrepancies.

Fisheries officers had seized documents and computer records from various premises, including Sealord's offices, which would now be analysed, he said.

Mr Mikkelsen said the purse seine boats, which were seized on Wednesday, had now been returned to their operators under bond. They could resume fishing, until a decision on charges was made.

He said the fish had since been sold, via Tauranga, and the ministry was endeavouring to trace it.

If charges are laid, the companies face a maximum fine of $250,000 for each offence of misreporting catch. The boats could also be forfeited.

- NZPA