Sanford faces new fine due to presumed environment offence - FIS US Skretting

Posted - August 21, 2013 - By Gabriela Raffaele -  FIS US Skretting

The New Zealand government intends to impose a fine on the fishing company Sanford Ltd. after an inquest into an oil-dumping incident incriminating the company was completed.

The due sanctions come about after the company failed to notify the regulating authority, Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) of an (illegal) discharge of a harmful substance into the ocean, inside New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone as well as due to two charges relating to the failure to alert authorities about the problem, reports the New Zealand Herald.

"The company is charged with illegal discharge of a harmful substance -- oil -- from the vessel, failing to notify MNZ of the discharge, and failure to notify a pollution incident," MNZ informed.

The discharge of hazardous substances entails a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment or a fine of NZD 200,000 (USD 162,000) while for the other two charges the maximum fine is NZD 100,000 (USD 81,000).
The illegal discharge presumably originated in a Korean foreign charter fishing vessel, the Pacinui.

"We gathered photographic evidence and conducted interviews with a number of Indonesian crew members, who may be called as witnesses in the case," said Steve Rendle of MNZ.

It is not the first time the company has been fined for failing to comply with environmental regulations. Earlier this year, the company was charged against environmental violations by the US District Court in Washington. Sanford Ltd. was fined with USD 1.9 million and was made to pay a compulsory community service sum of USD 500,000 to National Marine Sanctuaries, a trustee of marine protected areas.
The case will be addressed on 26 August at the Court of the Timaru District.

The combined fines Sanford will have to pay amount to NZD 300,000 (USD 243,000) and an additional NZD 20,000 (USD 16,200) for every day the offence was committed.

A representative for MNZ said the organism was unable for comment because the matter already is before the New Zealand courts.

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