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A Welsh yachtie stung with a $750 fine for dumping "human waste" in the sea at Opua disputes the claim, saying he will fight it "to the core".
Kieran Latham was fined by a Northland Regional Council staff member on Friday after angry holidaymakers had photographed him tipping what was believed to be raw sewage from his yacht, Lilly Bolero, into the sea.
"We were disgusted to see this happening every day, not only by the man photographed but also by other people on board," said one of the holidaymakers, who declined to be named. She says she and her family complained to the council after seeing Mr Latham using a plastic bucket as a toilet and tipping its contents over the side of the yacht into the sea at Opua for six weeks.
"This sort of behaviour needs to be stopped. It is not acceptable for any boat to discharge sewage into our waters," the woman said.
She hoped it would be a "wake up call" for all yachties who disposed of raw sewage in "our waters".
Mr Latham yesterday denied polluting the harbour at Opua, claiming he and his crew were "eco-friendly".
The Lilly Bolero website says the boat's crew care deeply about the environment.
Mr Latham said he intended to write to the council and explain the situation. "I'd like to see them try and prove it," he said.
He admitted disposing of "compost waste" - fruit and vegetable peelings - overboard, but said he did not commit any crime. He said in some places it was acceptable to dispose of human waste in the ocean and there wasn't much signage in Opua to warn boaties otherwise.
"I can't believe all the fuss over it. I feel like I'm being harassed. If somebody had a problem with something we were doing, why didn't they just come and talk to us?" he asked.
Mr Latham, who arrived from Wales last month, is working on Lilly Bolero at Opua until he and his partner head to the South Island next week.
He intended fighting the claim "to the core" and said he would go to court if necessary.
NRC monitoring manager Riaan Elliot said marine pollution regulations banned the disposal of untreated sewage in harbours and within 500m of the shore. Most boaties were responsible and disposed of their sewage appropriately.
But "an irresponsible few" could contaminate inshore waters with viruses and "other nasties" which could cause serious illnesses such as hepatitis A, he said.
The council was investigating the possibility of a compulsory sewage treatment system - a portable toilet or holding tank - on board any boat that docked in the Bay of Islands overnight.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
