Otago fisherman who set net six times in dolphin protected area fined $12,000
Wednesday, 26 January 2022
An Otago commercial fisherman who set and hauled nets six times in a dolphin protection area has been fined nearly $12,000.
Lance Edmond Nicolson, 34, who was prosecuted by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), was sentenced at the Dunedin District Court on Tuesday on one charge of using a set net within four nautical miles off the coast of Otago on six separate occasions.
MPI’s digital monitoring, which tracks fishing activity, discovered Nicolson’s offending between October 12 and November 6 in 2019.
Nicolson reported setting and hauling set nets six times, ranging from 295 metres to 1270 metres inside the banned area.
**READ MORE:
* Fishing boat seized after crew caught set netting in prohibited area
* Three fined $4000 for illegally taking 991 cockles from east Auckland beach
* Taranaki farmer fined $40k for breaking, docking cows' tails
**
As a result, the fishing vessel, Charlotte Rose, was forfeited to the Crown, along with set nets and Nicolson was also ordered to pay costs of $2046 to MPI.
MPI's regional manager of fish compliance Garreth Jay said set netting can pose a risk to Hector’s dolphins and commercial fishing crews have a responsibility to be aware of the regulations in the area they are working and to ensure they comply.
“The rules are there for a reason and most people do the right thing and follow them closely. When they don’t, we will hold them to account.”
Anyone who becomes aware of any suspicious fishing activity are asked to call MPI on 0800 47 62 24 or via email at ncc@mpi.govt.nz.
More information on protecting dolphins and on areas where set nets are banned can be found on MPI's website.