[7][8] This stake was acquired by Japanese company Nissui in 2001 for $207 million after it was approved by the New Zealand government on 16 January.
[11] In July 2020, Sealord was fined $24,000 and was ordered to give up a $16 million vessel after illegally bottom trawling in a protected zone between 26 and 28 October 2018.
The flag raised by the employee spurred testing and asbestos was found in the vessel, but not in the location the worker suspected.
In December 2021, Maritime New Zealand expressed concern about the ship and required it to be tested for asbestos on returning to Nelson.
Sealord ceased using the ship on 13 January 2022, offloading its crew; it received asbestos clearance in March 2022.
In August 2023, Sealord Group was convicted of endangering employees due to the asbestos in the Nelson District Court.
In the deal would be a quota of 46,000 metric tonnes, three deepwater factory fishing vessels (two owned, one chartered), a cold storage facility, and over 500 staff.
[15] The Commerce Commission approved the deal in November 2023,[16] and the purchase was completed in February 2024, making it the largest seafood company in New Zealand by revenue.