Four boats confiscated

Press, 23 January 1984, Page 6

Four boats confiscated

Four foreign fishing vessels have been confiscated since the establishment of New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone in 1978.

The Ministry of Fisheries has still not decided whether-. to lay charges against the skippers of the two Japanese squid boats apprehended off the Southland coast on Wednesday for allegedly fishing within the 20km territorial limit. The first confiscation of a foreign boat was in 1979, after the arrest of a Korean longliner not licensed to fish within the zone.

Fines and costs totalling $64,000 were imposed and the vessel was forfeited. It was later redeemed by its 1 owners for $20,000.

In January, 1980, a Japanese squid jigger was con-

victed for fishing within territorial waters and fined $18,500. That vessel was later redeemed for $lOO,OOO. Two Taiwanese vessels have since been forfeited — one in October, 1982, and one in May last year. The first vessel was fined $52,000 and was later redeemed for $7500, and fines totalling $93,000 were imposed on the second. Its owners had to pay $lO,OOO to get the vessel back. The costs of apprehending errant foreign boats is taken into account by the courts in imposing costs. Under the Fisheries Act, 1983, the owner or charterer of offending foreign vessels, and the master, are liable to a fine not ' exceeding $lOO,OOO. Crew members can be fined up to $5OOO each.