Family fined thousands for blackmarket fishing

Four family members have been fined a totally of $38,500 for their role in what has been described as one of the worst blackmarket fishing operations seen in New Zealand.

Neil Cleaver, 63, his wife Verena, 60, their daughter Janette Harper, 38, and daughter-in-law Sophie Jackson-Cleaver, 30, were sentenced in the Hamilton District Court thid morning.

The family, who for eight years had run Seabird Fishing at Te Waitere on the Kawhia Harbour, pleaded guilty to a total of 63 charges of making false fisheries statements following a 10-month investigation after a routine visit by fishery officers in July last year.

Neil Cleaver was fined $20,000, Verena $7000, Janette $5250 and Sophie $6250. The family has lost their two fishing vessels and fishing quota worth $5000. They were also fined a total of $33,600 in court costs and solicitors' fees.

During the hearing, the court was told how the business chose either to not record its catches, misreport what was caught or keep no records. 

The Ministry of Fisheries (MAF) said their scam was one of the worst seen since the introduction of the Quota Management System.

Between May 2002 and July 2003 the firm dealt in about 11 tonnes of illegal fish valued at up to $46,000.

A time limit on laying charges means the family cannot be charged for earlier offences.

- STAFF REPORTERS