Aroma Aquaculture Ltd was sentenced in the Christchurch District Court on Wednesday on one representative charge under the Biosecurity Act, following a successful prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries.
"This company supplied 27 consignments totalling about 259,000kg of live green-lipped mussels to the licenced fish receiver and exporter Ikana New Zealand Limited. The movement of the shellfish was in breach of movement controls in place to prevent the spread of Bonamia ostreae," says Aleshea Allen, ministry acting director of investigations and compliance support.
Ikana New Zealand Ltd did not have a permit to receive the shellfish and was fined $30,000 in March for its part in the offending.
"Bonamia ostreae has had a significant effect on the flat-oyster fishery, and we all need to do our part to prevent it from spreading. The movement controls are well understood by industry and have been in place across areas of the South Island since 2015," says Allen.
The investigation began when a biosecurity inspector discovered evidence that consignments of green-lipped mussels were being moved illegally by a group of seafood producers, transporters and processors.
"Our investigation found shellfish were moved in breach of biosecurity regulations as a result of a direct business arrangement between the management of Aroma Aquaculture and Ikana New Zealand.
"The vast majority of people who work in the aquaculture industry are responsible and do the right thing by following all rules and regulations.
"Aroma Aquaculture’s actions had the potential to cause serious harm to both the natural environment, and to the reputation of our country’s multi-million-dollar export and domestic shellfish industry. When we find evidence of offending, we take action," Allen says.
- The Ministry for Primary Industries encourage people to report any suspected illegal activity via 0800 4 POACHER (0800 476 224).
