A tip-off from a recreational fisher has led authorities to crack what they believe is a large scale black market operation in Auckland and Tauranga.
Fishery officers have seized a commercial fishing trawler in Tauranga and two refrigerated trucks, as well as a large amount of cash.
It follows an incident where a large amount of snapper was dumped near Town Point, Maketu in September.
Fisheries' spokesman Brendon Mikkelsen says a recreational fisher quickly alerted authorities to the dumped fish, and they were able to pinpoint a vessel.
It was covertly monitored for two months, mainly under the cover of darkness.
