A Northland fishing company has been fined $16,500 after failing to use mandatory bird-scaring equipment and submitting false statements on fish landing returns.

Macnicol Fishing Limited was sentenced in the North Shore District Court on Friday, 14 February 2025, after being found guilty of three charges under the Fisheries Act.

The prosecution was led by Fisheries New Zealand, which uncovered the violations while monitoring the company’s operations.

The company’s fishing vessel, the Carolina M, was found to have longlined without using tori lines, which are designed to prevent seabird bycatch during surface longlining.

Fisheries New Zealand district manager Glen Blackwell emphasised that these lines are a key tool for protecting endangered seabirds.

"All longliners are expected to use tori lines when surface longlining. Video footage showed the Carolina M was operating without this essential equipment, increasing the risk of capturing protected seabirds," said Blackwell.

In addition to this, another of Macnicol Fishing’s vessels, the Kiella, was caught misreporting its catch location in electronic reports.

The vessel indicated that fish were caught off the Bay of Plenty when, in fact, they were harvested from waters north of Auckland.

A second incorrect report was filed the following month, detailing the location of snapper and trevally catches.

Mr Blackwell stressed the importance of accurate reporting for sustainable fisheries management.

"It is a fisher’s responsibility to accurately report their catch. This information is crucial when setting catch limits, which is why we take misreporting seriously," he explained.

The incidents have raised concerns about the company’s commitment to complying with regulations designed to protect marine life and ensure sustainability.

Fisheries New Zealand is continuing to monitor commercial fishing practices closely to prevent similar violations.

For Coasties who suspect illegal fishing activities, MPI urges the public to report them through the ministry’s 0800 4 POACHER helpline (0800 476 224).

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