Sanford to lose $ 20 million from boat, fined for bottom trawling in restricted area

Commercial fishing company Sanford Limited was ordered to lose a $ 20 million boat and a $ 36,000 fine for bottom trawling in a restricted area.

Sanford was convicted of three representative charges related to fishing in the Puysegur benthic protection area, west of Stewart Island.

The Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) discovered that the ship, the San Waitaki, had illegally bottom trawling in the Puysegur benthic protection area while targeting orange roughy during fishing trips in 2017 and 2018.

Proceeds from the sale of fish caught in the Puysegur Benthic Protection Area in 2018, amounting to $ 150,720, were also seized, as well as fishing equipment valued at $ 5,280.

Additionally, ship’s captain Grant Clifford Walker, 51, was convicted of two representative charges and fined $ 11,250, and First Officer William Dessiou Lash, 46, was convicted of one representative charge and fined $ 5,400.

Walker was found to be in control of the boat for eight trawls and Lash was in control of the boat for four trawls.

Benthic protection areas, which are susceptible to damage from bottom trawling activities, are closed to protect marine biological life.

Sanford’s 2018 crime came to light as a result of MPI’s electronic monitoring system, which tracks the location of a commercial fishing fleet in near real time.

MPI receives an alert when ships enter restricted or prohibited areas.

While the Sanford vessel chartplotter did not show the Puysegur BPA as an area closed to bottom trawling, the court found that the company did not take all reasonable steps to ensure that the captain and first officer of the San Waitaki knew the closed area before either fishing trip.

Steve Ham, MPI’s National Fisheries Compliance Manager, said that as responsible operators, it is vital that fishers are aware of the restrictions.

“Mistakes like this just shouldn’t happen. It’s important for companies to make sure their people get the right training and resources so they know where they can and can’t fish. Benthic protection areas and other enclosed areas should be loaded in boat chart plotters.

“We hope that the relevant legislation will be 100% compliant and we will take appropriate action when a violation of the legislation is detected.”

Andre Gargiulo, Sanford’s acting chief executive officer, said the company fully accepts the judge’s decision.

“We are very sorry for what happened and we are disappointed in ourselves.”

“We have had people ask us how a vessel using GPS cannot tell that it is in a BPA. At the time, the San Waitaki was using electronic charts that did not delineate the small area of ​​BPA. It was human error that the charts They were not up to date as they should have been “.

Gargiulo said Sanford has put systems in place to minimize the risk of this happening again.

The judge noted that “neither party had intent to commit a crime” and noted Sanford’s “excellent record in this area.”

Gargiulo said Sanford will work constructively to quickly address the confiscation issue.

“In the meantime, Sanford will work with MPI to ensure the vessel remains operational until the matter is resolved.”

The San Waitaki is a stern deep-sea trawler, weighing 1900 tons and was built in 1990. The vessel targets orange roughy, smooth oreo dory and black dory. You can also enter the arrow squid and hoki fisheries on short notice.