Government Breaks Promise To Fishermen – Are Private Landowners Next?

The New Zealand Seafood Industry Council feels it has an obligation to inform New Zealand that this Government is willing to sacrifice private property rights to satisfy Treaty claims.

The government is pushing through the Fisheries Amendment Bill (No 2) under urgency.

“What many New Zealanders do not understand is that this legislation will also allow the government to confiscate 20 percent of a whole range of species not covered in the 4th schedule attached to this bill - without any compensation,” SeaFIC Science and Policy Manager Dr Michael Harte said today.

“In the run up to the election this Government clearly stated that they would ensure fair compensation for any quota that was confiscated to satisfy the Governments obligation to Maori.”

“Despite strong submissions from the industry the Government has refused to ensure that their promise would be enshrined in this legislation. Instead they arbitrarily decided only to partially compensate for the few species listed on the 4th schedule. ”

“They have broken their promise to this industry. The Labour Government has a clear intention to confiscate without any compensation the 20 percent of catching rights of all species not on the 4th schedule where the catch limits do not have the room to satisfy obligations to Maori.”

“The Government is fully aware that this confiscation will happen but are content to break their promise of compensation in such circumstances. Paying partial compensation for a few select species is bad enough but ensuring no compensation is paid for all other species is inexcusable. It will cause a deep grievance between the industry and Government for as long as their promise remains broken.”

“Today the issue is confiscation of fish rights. Tomorrow the issue could be about private land and that should be of extreme concern to the nation.”

For further information contact Dr Harte 025 498 087 or Communications Manager Tina Nixon
Ph 025 2232789

© Scoop Media