Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries
A former commercial fisher, who illegally sold seaweed online, has been fined $50,000.
Seaweeds are critical to marine and coastal environments, providing habitats and food for a wide range of marine organisms. Any commercial harvest of seaweed is carefully managed through a permitting and reporting system.
Ryan Campbell McManaway (36) was sentenced in his absence at the Invercargill District Court (26/9/2025) on 4 charges under the Fisheries Act, following a successful prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries. He was also fined an additional $3,000 on 3 charges of failing to comply with a directive to attend an interview with a fishery officer.
In November 2022, fishery officers discovered an online post advertising liquid seaweed fertiliser in 1,000 litre containers for $500 or $20 for a 20-litre bucket. A search warrant of a property found 14 of these containers of liquid seaweed fertiliser. Analysis of the seaweed found it to be Macrocystis pyrifera which can be used for fertiliser and in some food products.
“Mr McManaway was not a commercial fisher at the time. He had no legitimate right to harvest and sell this seaweed as a fertiliser,” says Fisheries New Zealand regional manager (south), Garreth Jay.
During their investigation, fishery officers also found an industrial mincer with 6 implements that had seaweed on them along with various other pieces of seaweed at his property.
“Mr McManaway could’ve potentially earned several thousand dollars from this illegal operation. When we find evidence of people breaking the rules that are there to protect the sustainability of our fisheries resources and the livelihood of legitimate commercial operators, we will hold them to account,” says Garreth Jay.
People are encouraged to do their part in protecting our fisheries by reporting any suspicious fishing to 0800 4 POACHER (0800 47 62 24) or poacher@mpi.govt.nz
For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 008 333 or email info@mpi.govt.nz
For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.
