School fish sale decision

A decision is expected this week on whether a parent who sold smoked fish at a Far North school's calf club fundraising day should be prosecuted for breaching the Fisheries Act.

Kaimaumau recreational fisherman Peter Yerkovich, who has two children attending Waiharara School, was questioned by two Ministry of Fisheries officers after selling $6 packs of smoked mullet during a school fund-raising gala on October 15.

The officers, who had travelled on a tip-off from Whangarei to the school 40km north of Kaitaia, interviewed Mr Yerkovich at the Kaitaia police station before taking him home and seizing nets, chilly bins and fishing gear.

Mr Yerkovich was not arrested but was told he was acting illegally by selling fish that had not come from someone licensed by the ministry to sell fish.

He had caught the mullet himself after obtaining a Maori customary fishing permit, but learned later that this covered seafood only for hui and tangi and the fish could not be sold to anyone.