The Ministry of Fisheries says it has used science in a unique way, to track a vessel that dumped fish illegally.
A commercial fisherman was fined $27,000 in Tauranga District Court on Tuesday for dumping about 1000 snapper in August 2009.
The ministry says blue paint was found under the scales of two snapper and the University of Otago's Chemistry Isotrace Unit was able to link it to the vessel involved, the Garraway.
The scientists had been given a list of boats on the water at the time to help them find a match.
Under the 1996 Fisheries Act, dumping legally sized fish is prohibited because all species must be counted against annual catch entitlements.
