Ministerial Inquiry into foreign charter vessels

Ministerial Inquiry into foreign charter vessels

Te Ohu Kaimoana, the Maori Fisheries Trust, has today welcomed a Ministerial Inquiry into the fishing industry's use of foreign charter vessels.

“The foreign charter fleet is important to the effective operation of New Zealand's fishing industry as a whole. The use of FCVs is also important to iwi,” Te Ohu Kaimoana chief executive Peter Douglas said.

“All iwi sell their Annual Catch Entitlements (ACE). A few iwi sell all of their deepwater ACE to operators of FCVs. Some iwi sell all of their deepwater ACE to local companies, which in some cases then on-sell the ACE for some of those fishstocks to FCV operators.”

“Another group of iwi sell their deepwater ACE with different parcels of fishstock being sold to different operators, some of which operate FCVs.”

“The long-term viability of New Zealand’s fishing industry depends on ensuring the Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) is caught economically. Wide-spread competition for catching ACE is essential for iwi to obtain the best returns on their fisheries investments,” Mr Douglas said.

“In addition, it is necessary for the on-going reputation of New Zealand's world-leading fisheries management system that the public can have confidence that FCV operators comply with all aspects of New Zealand's fisheries, labour and immigration laws”, he added.

Te Ohu Kaimoana looks forward to contributing to the inquiry on behalf of its iwi shareholders.

ENDS

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