A commercial fisherman is to be prosecuted and faces a fine of up to $100,000 after dozens of albatrosses were killed during a fishing trip. "The skipper faces a maximum fine of $100,000 in relation to an offence under the Fisheries (Commercial Fishing) Regulations and forfeiture of the vessel used in the operation." The incident was reported by an MPI observer who was on board the vessel at the time. "The fact this fisher was caught by an on-board MPI observer confirms the critical need to have much higher levels of observer coverage of the domestic surface longline fishing fleet." Baird also called on MPI to employ electronic monitoring throughout the fishing industry "to keep fishers honest".

Source: New Zealand Herald July 14, 2016 09:56 UTC