The court hearing against five officers from a Korean fishing trawler has been told officers abused crew and up to 600 tonnes, worth as much as $1.4 million, was dumped at sea.
The five Oyang 75 crew, skipper Chong Pil Yun, deck bosun Wongeun Kang, radio operator Juncheol Lee, chief officer Minsu Park and factory manager Tae Won Jo, have failed to turn up for the hearing in Christchurch District Court.
After nine days of evidence, Judge David Saunders on Tuesday reserved his decision, the Christchurch Court News website reports.
The accused men can be sentenced in their absence if the judge decides the charges are proved.
They face a variety of charges, including the dumping of fish, making false and misleading statements and hindering a fisheries observer following the alleged dumping of the fish from the Oyang 75 commercial fishing vessel last year.
Fishery analyst Damien Johnson told the court it was estimated that between 330 tonnes and 600 tonnes of low-value fish was discarded over the Oyang 75's two trips.
Fisheries observer Susannah Barham, whose evidence was read out, told of a series of incidents in which she saw quota fish being discarded without permission.
She also told of the drunk bosun Kang entertaining himself by locking a crew member in a fish storage area.
"I was appalled by his behaviour and intervened because I saw it as a safety issue."
Indonesian crew members on the Oyang 75 later walked off the ship at Lyttelton citing inhumane treatment, long hours and pay issues.
Ms Barham said officers were aggressive towards crew members. Kang smacked crew across the head or threw fish at them.
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