Phil Heatley MP
National Party Fisheries Spokesman

10 March 2006

Anderton all at sea on fisheries claim

National Party Fisheries spokesman Phil Heatley says Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton’s “thrown a classic boomerang” with his attempts to deny the Labour Government has cut back the number of fisheries officers.

According to written Parliamentary questions answered by Mr Anderton in December, the total number of fisheries officers has reduced sharply over the past three years (PQs attached).

“From 2002 to 2005 the number of Honorary Fisheries officers dropped from 246 to 160 and the number of paid officers rose by just one to 127.

“Labour’s cut the guts out of honorary fisheries officer numbers and Mr Anderton needs to understand that unless you have people patrolling the coast, poachers will continue to take full advantage.

“One reason why prosecution rates could be on the decline is because there are fewer officers to catch offenders.

“Mr Anderton should spend more time working to improve the protection of our valuable inshore fishery, rather than trying to score cheap political points, which inevitably backfire on him,” says Mr Heatley.

ENDS

Parliamentary questions 11194 & 11195

Sent: Wednesday, 21 December 2005 09:55 a.m.
To: Philip Heatley
Subject: 11195 (2005) Published - Fisheries - Normal Reply

Question: How many honorary fisheries officers did the Ministry engage in total, on average, in each of the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005?

Portfolio: Fisheries
Minister: Hon Jim Anderton
Date Lodged:09/12/2005

Answer Text: During the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 the Ministry of fisheries engaged the following total number of Honorary Fishery Officers:

2002 2003 2004 2005
Total 246 240 167 160

Attachment: None
Date Received:21/12/2005

Sent: Wednesday, 21 December 2005 09:55 a.m.
To: Philip Heatley
Subject: 11194 (2005) Published - Fisheries - Normal Reply

Question: How many permanent fisheries officers did the Ministry employ in total, on average, in each of the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005?

Portfolio: Fisheries
Minister: Hon Jim Anderton
Date Lodged:09/12/2005

Answer Text: During the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 the Ministry of fisheries employed the following total numbers of Fishery Officers:

2002 2003 2004 2005
Total 126 127 149 127
note these numbers exclude vacancies.

Attachment: None
Date Received:21/12/2005

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