Fisherman convicted

A commercial fisherman has been convicted and fined after being caught working illegally outside safe operating limits, following a surveillance programme during the summer Albacore Tuna season coordinated by Maritime New Zealand (MNZ).

In the Whangarei District Court today, Max Wyatt pleaded guilty to a charge under section 68 of the Maritime Transport Act and was fined $5000 plus court costs.

Mr Wyatt’s vessel, Happy VI, was photographed in February during a Royal New Zealand Air Force surveillance flight coordinated by MNZ.

He was fishing 17.5 nautical miles outside the limits prescribed by his vessel’s safe ship management (SSM) certificate.

Mr Wyatt had previously (in 2010) been warned by the Director of MNZ about fishing outside of safe operating limits.

MNZ Acting Manager Maritime Investigations Paul Fantham said unfortunately Mr Wyatt did not heed the initial warning.

"This is about operating within the assigned safe limits of the vessel. These are specified on each vessel’s SSM certificate and give the maximum distance for operations from shore.“

SSM certification prescribes the appropriate safety equipment, operating procedures and crewing limits relevant to a vessel’s area of operation.

“Operating outside the limits of an SSM certificate could mean putting the safety of crew at risk,” Mr Fantham said.

“This is why it is important for operators to ensure they stay within the limits their certificate stipulates.

“This prosecution reinforces MNZ’s commitment to ensuring that all commercial operators are working within the law and that there is a level playing field for all,” Mr Fantham says.

“This will see MNZ continue its ongoing programme of monitoring and surveillance of the commercial fishing fleet.”