Northland fisher fined for illegal mussel spat sales

A commercial fisher from Northland has been fined for illegal sales of mussel spat. Daniel John Lovell sold over 2000kg of juvenile shellfish without properly reporting the amount. Lovell collected the spat from Ninety Mile Beach, known for producing most of New Zealand's commercial mussel spat. He was fined $50,625 and must also pay $53,540 in reparation to the Ministry for Primary Industries. The 48-year-old pleaded guilty to violating the Fisheries Act. His case was heard in the Kaitāia District Court. According to authorities, Lovell sold 1738kg more mussel spat than he reported for the 2021/22 fishing year.