Fines reaching tens of thousands for black-market seafood sales

Three commercial Southland fishers and a seller have been fined just under 37 thousand dollars for illegally selling large amounts of kina, paua and blue cod.

None had permits or were Licensed Fish Receivers or farmers.

Fisheries District Manager, Greg Forbes, says black-market sales of recreational catch is a slap in the face to the majority doing the right thing.

The men pleaded guilty to multiple charges under the Fisheries Act and were sentenced in the Invercargill District Court.