The captain of the Oyang 77 fishing vessel has pleaded not guilty to charges of failing to report its catch.
The Ministry for Primary Industries seized the Korean ship in June this year and charged the captain and factory manager for mis-reporting and illegally dumping fish.
The ministry says the factory manager, who was facing three charges of illegally dumping fish, has died in a car accident in China.
The captain is due to next appear in the Christchurch District Court in November.
