Secret filming by a trawler's crew member has led to New Zealand's biggest prosecution for fish dumping.
The practice, which has been labelled robbery on the high seas, threatens to wipe out seafood stocks.
Tonnes of perfectly good fish being thrown overboard was captured on a crewman's cellphone camera.
"We estimated between 80 and 311 tonnes of fish was dumped on that trip," says John Slaughter of the Ministry of Fisheries investigations manager.
The footage also shows whole fish mixed with the remains of processed fish waiting to be dumped.
It cost the skipper of the Aorere $45,000 while two crewmen were fined $20,000. All have lost lost their jobs.
They had dumped enough fish to fill 10 30-tonne containers. One of the prosecuted crewman has told ONE News it was all about money and quantity - they processed the best fish and dumped the rest.
It's the biggest fish dumping prosecution in New Zealand and fisheries officers say it was only possible because of the actions of the crewman armed with his cellphone.
"We understand the risks involved with people filming on the vessels but if there was information we would encourage them to come forward and we would certainly act on it," says Slaughter.
Ministry of Fisheries CEO Wayne McNee says it is very disappointing to see such a big company as Sealord involved in dumping.
"And we hope they and other companies will learn a lesson from this."
But in a statement, Sealord, which had chartered the ship, says it doesn't condone dumping because it undermines the quota system, it didn't know about it at the time and that it instructs and trains its crews to comply with the law.
It's the seventh successful dumping prosecution in as many years.
"I hope that we've sent out a signal dumping won't be tolerated and that any dumping that is detected we will investigate and it will be dealt with seriously," says Slaughter.
A judge is yet to decide what will happen to the trawler which is now based in Norway. But the amateur camera footage could see the New Zealand government get ownership of the $5 million vessel.
