MPI appears to be lost at sea on the issue of illegal dumping of fish. Even the Minister, Nathan Guy, seems to be confused about what exactly is happening.
The Minister was never briefed on either Operation Achilles or Hippocamp, the internal reports by MPI's own investigators which talk about "significant" evidence of “widespread” dumping by trawlers in the South Island.
(Still image taken from MPI video showing Kingfish being dumped overboard)
MPI has video footage of this alleged offending, including the capture of two dolphins in the net of one of the trawlers. Nathan Guy has told us this material cannot be released as it's part of an "ongoing criminal investigation".
This appears to be at odds with what his own Ministry is saying. MPI's deputy director general, Scott Gallacher, has said an investigation was launched, but they could not take a prosecution. The Ministry wanted to but the legal advice it got was that the footage acquired could not be used in court.
So there is no ongoing criminal investigation - criminality could apparently not be proven despite the hours of "compelling" video and observer accounts.
(Still image taken from MPI video showing Elephant Fish being dumped overboard)
Gallacher believes his own senior investigators may have "misinterpreted some information" while reviewing footage and compiling their investigation reports. But it's hard to understand how you could misinterpret information when the investigations were based not only on eye witness accounts from observers, but also on CCTV video.
MPI says another reason for not releasing the footage is that it could reveal special MPI investigative techniques. No it won't. What it will reveal is whether Kiwi fishermen have been busted red-handed illegally dumping valuable fish. Stop the spin. MPI must release the footage and let the public decide what it really shows.
