AMALTAL ATLANTIS

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Trawler cleared of alleged wrongdoing

The "Amaltal Atlantis" which had been suspected of encroaching illegally on South Otago inshore waters has been cleared by officials. The alleged breach came to light after a Milton fisherman photographed a large trawler apparently targeting the Akatore Reef on Sep 9, 2018 from a lookout at Bull Creek, near Milton. The reef sits within a voluntary 5 km commercial trawling exclusion zone. After completing a review of tracking data for the "Amaltal Atlantis" the Ministry for Primary Industries said it was satisfied regulations had been complied with. The trrawler steamed past the area on September 9 at a distance of 4.16 nautical miles. Representatives on vessel notified MPI of the intention to steam to Dunedin. It was likely they transited closer to shore to shelter from the prevailing strong winds. The inaccurate assessment of the vessel's proximity to shore may have been down to its size which can make it seem closer to shore. The track of the vessel was consistent with it transiting, well above any trawl speed, therefore no offending has occurred.