Sanford Rejects US Government Allegations of Pollution

SANFORD LIMITED

SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD

7 December 2011

PRESS RELEASE

“Sanford Relies on Clean Ocean and Rejects US Government Allegations of Pollution and Obstruction”

Sanford Limited has learned today through its legal advisers and a public release from the US Department of Justice that it will be served with indictments alleging failure to maintain an accurate oil record book, and consequent illegal pollution discharges and obstruction during the investigation.

We have been conducting our own investigations in conjunction with our legal advisers since July 2011 when the US detained the San Nikunau in American Samoa. We will be vigorously defending all the charges and continuing our efforts with authorities in American Samoa to get the vessel released to enable it to return to fishing.

Sanford Limited takes its responsibilities to respect the ocean and its resources extremely seriously and would never permit discharges of pollutants into the ocean and nor would we obstruct any reasonable investigation into any allegations made against the company. The company has publicly reported its environmental, economic and social performance in the form of a Sustainable Development Report for the last 10 years. In 2011 it was awarded ACCA (Global Association of Chartered Accountants) NZ for the best Sustainable Development Report by a Corporate and an NZX50 listed company for its 2010 report.

Eric Barratt

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Further information.

The San Nikunau is one of 3 large scale freezer tuna purse seiners that it operates throughout the Pacific and on occasions in New Zealand. The vessels target skipjack tuna, which is mostly used for canning, and is often unloaded and sold into one of the two canneries based in Pago Pago, American Samoa. The vessel has a crew of 19 comprised of a mixture of nationalities most who have been on board since before we purchased the vessel from American owners in 2001. The vessel has been regularly inspected by US Coast Guard and Maritime New Zealand authorities since we took ownership.

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