A Royal New Zealand Air Force P3K Orion has intercepted a vessel fishing illegally in the Ross Sea.
The Togolese-flagged vessel the Carmela was found in an area managed by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.
It was using deep-sea gillnets, which are banned because of the serious impact they can have on non-target marine species and the ocean environment.
The Carmela is believed to be the former Gold Dragon, a vessel blacklisted by the commission.
