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mpi news ILLEGAL CRAY SOLD ON FACEBOOK Whangarei couple Leslie and Molly Taka employed modern technology and a false identity to sell crayfish illegally on the Internet. The pair, aged 46 and 42, used a false name to advertise their crayfish catch on the social media network Facebook. As the word spread, there were plenty of buyers who paid cash for their kaimoana at a Tikipunga home – until officials also used modern technology to track down the illegal transactions. The couple appeared in the Whangarei District Court charged with selling fish not recorded or reported in accordance with the Fisheries Act. They pleaded guilty and were each fined $1000. Only registered commercial fishers, licensed fish receivers or dealers in fish such as fish shops can sell fish, including crayfish. Breaking the law carries a maximum fine of $250,000 and forfeiture of any property or equipment used. In December last year officials were tipped off about a person selling crayfish on a Facebook group "Buy Sell Swaps Whangarei". The seller received a message and a deal was made to pay $25 for a crayfish, to be picked up from a house in Tikipunga. During January officials were made aware of three other online sales of crayfish and seafood by the same person. On January 18, 2013 a plain clothed fisheries officer went to the house and arranged with Leslie Taka to buy a freshly cooked cray for $50. Molly Taka handed over the crayfish. Later that day, fisheries officers went to the house and the illegal online selling was exposed. Judge Maude said the black market sale of crayfish undercut the legitimate licensed sellers of fish. Ministry for Primary Industries Northland compliance manager Darren Edwards said recreational caught crayfish had allegedly been offered for sale on the social media site for $20 to $30. "The main reason for this is to ensure that all commercial activity is captured at the point of extraction – the commercial fisher – and recorded into the quota management system," Edwards said. "It's illegal for recreational fishers to sell, offer to sell, or trade for other goods or barter fish that they have caught. Recreational fish is there as a personal entitlement." FISHING BOATS SEIZED DIRECTOR FINED A Blenheim based fishing company and its director have been sentenced under the Fisheries Act 1996 after pleading guilty to making false and misleading statements on fishing returns and documents relating to fishing trips made over a 17 month period from May 2010 to September 2011. Dennis Graham Roach was convicted on 38 charges under Section 230 of the Fisheries Act 1996. Judge Hobbs sentenced Roach to fines totalling $35,000 as well as ordering both fishing vessels, FV Victory 11 and FV Kathryn forfeit to the crown with a total of $33,000 to be paid for their redemption. Roach's company, D and N Fishing Ltd was also convicted on 38 Section 230 charges and discharged. Roach is the sole director of the Blenheim based D and N Fishing Limited, which operates two trawlers around the top of the South Island and the lower North Island. Roach either skippers the vessels himself, or acts as shore based manager with other people skippering the boats on his behalf. Under an operation code named "Operation Portsmouth", the Ministry for Primary Industries investigated Roach and his employees for making false statements and material omissions in the various fishing returns required to ensure the sustainable harvest of New Zealand fish stocks. Roach was found to have been misreporting his catch as being caught in another quota area, as well as failing to declare fish that had been landed and sold. MPI estimated that in total the 76 Professional Skipper September/October 2013 offending involved between 51-57 tonnes of fish, with a deemed value of $77,913. MPI Nelson/Marlborough District compliance manager Ian Bright says this type of behaviour undermines the Quota Management System which is reliant on accurate and honest reporting by the industry. "A total disregard for the QMS as revealed by this operation places the sustainability of our fisheries at risk. This result shows that the Ministry will not tolerate this type of offending." ASSESSMENT OF FISHERIES STOCKS The Ministry for Primary Industries has released the latest comprehensive scientific assessment of the status of New Zealand's fisheries. "The 2013 plenary report provides us with valuable, peerreviewed scientific information on the status of our fish stocks and fisheries," says Dr Pamela Mace, principal advisor of fisheries science for MPI. "Many of the assessments indicate there is scope for increases in current catch limits. Hoki is the 'star' performer. A few short years ago there was concern that the western stock had become depleted. Science has driven strong and decisive management action and ensured the full restoration of hoki New Zealandwide, even surpassing management benchmarks." Highlights of the fisheries assessments include: • Hoki: Both the eastern and western stocks have increased over seven consecutive years. The abundance of both stocks is now near or above the upper bound of the management target range. • Chatham Rise orange roughy: A 2012 survey of this stock confirmed the existence of a large new spawning area first discovered in 2011. This has substantially improved the status of the orange roughy stock. The abundance of the stock has further increased slightly since last year. • West Coast South Island ling and hake: Both of these stocks have been assessed to be well above their management targets. • East Northland, Hauraki Gulf and Bay of Plenty snapper: While these stocks have increased by up to 70 percent over the last 15-25 years, they are still only at about half of the level of their current management target. Recent numbers of young fish coming into the population – known as recruitment – have been above average. Five-year projections indicate all three stocks will increase slowly at current catch levels if good recruitment continues. • North of the South Island snapper: There appears to have been a marked increase in recruitment since 2007, and this has led to a large increase in catch rates over the last two years. • Southland blue cod: This is the first time a fisheries assessment has been conducted for this stock; it indicates the fishery is performing well and the stock is optimally utilised. • South of the South Island paua: The stock appears to be rebuilding towards its management target, although there is uncertainty about the level of the stock and the rate of rebuild. There is no indication of a sustainability risk for the stock under current catch levels. • East Coast North Island scampi: The population on the lower half of the east coast North Island is now well above its management target. Wild species fluctuate in abundance as a result of the influence of both fishing and environmental factors, and catch limits for some species may need to be curtailed as part of ongoing assessments of fish stocks. MPI thanks the large number of research providers and scientists; together with technical and non-technical participants for their substantial contributions to this report. www.skipper.co.nz