A Queenstown hotel has been fined $22,000 for illegally selling recreationally caught crayfish and failing to keep records.

The Rees Management Limited, trading as The Rees Hotel, was sentenced in the Queenstown District Court on Monday (14 Jul) following charges brought by the Ministry for Primary Industries, under the Fisheries Act 1996 and Fisheries (Recordkeeping) Regulations 1990.

The hotel had been offering a premium experience to guests called The Rees Ultimate Heli Crayfish dining experience, which involved guests flying by helicopter to a West Coast beach to receive live crayfish - gathered by a diver - before returning to the hotel to have them cooked for them.

Guests were charged between $4650 and $7750 for the total day's experience.

However under the Fisheries Act, a commercial fishing permit is required to take any fish for sale. 

Fisheries New Zealand regional manager South Garreth Jay said any use of seafood as part of a business’ commercial activities is considered sale under the Act.

“The rules are there for a reason – to safeguard the resource for current and future generations, protect the integrity of the fisheries management system, and ensure a level playing field for businesses’ using seafood as part of their commercial activities."

"Where we find evidence of people breaking the rules we will investigate and take appropriate action."

“In this case it is our view the offending persisted despite clear advice being given to the operators involved that the helicopter experience package did not comply with the Fisheries Act.”

The hotel also did not keep required records of the crayfish, making it difficult to quantify the scale of the offending, Jay said.

“We all have a role to play in ensuring the ongoing sustainability of our fisheries."

"We encourage people to report suspected illegal activity through our free-calling 0800 4 POACHER number (0800 47 62 24).”

Fisheries New Zealand is also prosecuting another business in relation to the offending. The matter is still before the courts.