Environment And Conservation Organisations Of Aotearoa/NZ

 Wellington – 3 February 2009

Signing South Pacific Fisheries Agreement Welcomed

The Environment and Conservation Organisations (ECO) today welcomed New Zealand signing the South Pacific regional fisheries management agreement.

ECO Co-chairperson, Cath Wallace, said the agreement was essential for the management of pelagic and bottom fisheries in the South Pacific, including orange roughy and jack mackerel.

ECO monitored the negotiations of over 25 countries and attended the final negotiating meeting in Auckland in November 2009.

“The negotiation of the agreement was a major achievement.  We can thank distinguished New Zealand international lawyer, Bill Mansfield for this, and in particular his efforts to ensure that the text of the agreement includes modern environmental principles and requirements” said Cath Wallace. 

“We now have to see which countries will sign up soon and then ratify the Agreement, and which try to delay.”  Ms Wallace said it was essential that all countries take further steps to protect fisheries and the marine environment during the time it takes for enough countries to ratify the agreement as required for the agreement to enter into force.”

“New Zealand played a constructive part in the negotiations and is to host the secretariat of the new South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation.  Gerard van Bohemen, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand’s lead negotiator should take a bow as well.”

“The biggest fishery at risk over the next 1-3 years is the Chilean jack mackerel fishery in the eastern Pacific, but more than 90% of the bottom damaging trawlers are mostly from New Zealand and they do a lot of damage.”

ends

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