Christchurch man jailed for poaching nearly 1500 sea cucumbers
Jason Murray Nix, 55, learned his fate in the Christchurch District Court yesterday for two charges under the Fisheries Act. He was also banned from all fishing for three years.
Nix received a total sentence of 30 months' imprisonment as he was also sentenced on separate police charges. His equipment, including two boats and a car, was forfeited to the Crown.
In November 2023, Nix and another man were stopped by police on other issues, and his vehicle was impounded due to other legal matters.
During a search of the car, 1022 sea cucumbers were found and Fishery Officers were contacted. Nix was caught again in December 2024 with another 410. The daily limit per person for taking sea cucumbers is 50.
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A Fishery Officer. (File image). (Source: 1News)
Fisheries New Zealand district manager in Marlborough/Canterbury, Stuart Moore, said Nix had more than 20 times the daily limit for sea cucumbers in his vehicle, likely bound for selling on the black market.
"Our investigation found strong electronic evidence of illegal seafood sales," he said.
"To buy sea cucumbers commercially can cost up to $80/kg. Black market sales of sea cucumbers can be as little as $25/kg, seriously undermining the legitimate market."
Brown sea cucumber Stichopus mollis on the bottom of Browns Bay in Auckland. (Source: istock.com)
Moore urged members of the public who were aware of, or have been offered, cheap sea cucumbers to report suspected illegal activity through the ministry's 0800 4 POACHER number (0800 476 224).
The other man stopped with Nix was yet to appear before the court.
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Only one species of sea cucumber was common around the New Zealand coast, stichopus mollis, or rori, according to Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
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