A Genuine Move To Protect Seabed

5 April 2007

Industry-Led Proposal A Genuine Move To Protect Seabed

Our fishing industry is to be applauded for developing an initiative to protect marine habitats on the seabed equivalent to more than a third of New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Te Ohu Kaimoana, the Maori Fisheries Trust, and Aotearoa Fisheries Limited said today.

“This is a genuine effort to ensure certain areas of the benthic environment remain in pristine condition now and for our mokopuna. The Government is to be applauded for approving this industry-led initiative to protect the environment,” Te Ohu Kaimoana Chief Executive Peter Douglas said today.

New Zealand’s commercial fishing industry has agreed to ban bottom-trawl fishing or dredging in 17 large areas of the EEZ. These areas make up 32 percent of the EEZ and represent an area more than four times the landmass of mainland New Zealand. Bottom-trawl fishing has previously occurred in 16 of these BPAs and almost 20,000 tonnes of fish has previously been caught in them.

Mr Douglas said that, unlike the Ministry’s Shared Fisheries proposals, this plan will not have a negative impact on the Maori Fisheries Settlement because it didn’t affect quota shares for particular fish species that made up the fisheries settlement.

Chief Executive of AFL, Robin Hapi, said that when industry conceived the plan, it was a bold and audacious move. “This plan sets aside areas that are pristine in nature. It fits in with the Maori ethic of kaitiakitanga and rahui and demonstrates that New Zealand’s fourth largest industry is able to ensure the full conservation of our benthic environment for future generations while ensuring sustainable utilisation.”

Mr Hapi debunked claims by Greenpeace and the Green Party that this wasn’t a genuine proposal. “It’s typical that these organisations would pour cold water on this plan. While the ability for the public to enjoy and view these areas is symbolic because by and large the technology is not yet generally available, these areas will remain pristine until the advent of such technology for future generations.

“Greenpeace’s comments demonstrate they are not about protecting the environment but more concerned with conducting anti-fishing campaigns. We New Zealanders care very much for our marine environment, we understand sustainability and with recent research showing that almost 90 percent of Kiwis eat fish at least once a month, we have an interest in ensuring good conservation of the resource.”

“When these groups make claims that it won’t help fisheries, they forget that this proposal was never about fisheries management. Fisheries management tools are contained in the Quota Management System, which is extolled around the world by Government, Industry and officials as being the best in the world,” Mr Hapi said.

ENDS

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