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Foreign fishing move solves some environmental problems
FAB RGB Logo Portrait.jpgTuesday 22 May 2012 – Wellington
Forest & Bird media release for immediate use
Foreign fishing move solves some environmental problems
Forest & Bird congratulates the Government for its decision to re-flag foreign fishing vessels operating in New Zealand waters, but says the move will not bring environmental benefits until it solves non-compliance problems for all fishing vessels.
Forest & Bird Marine Conservation Advocate Katrina Subedar is pleased the decision will guarantee the safety of crews operating in New Zealand waters by bringing foreign fishing vessels in line with New Zealand law.
The inquiry into foreign chartered vessels and the Ministry for Primary Industries have found that high-grading (getting rid of lower-value fish and keeping higher-value fish) and misreporting of by-catch by foreign-owned vessels are some of the key environmental concerns behind the change.
“We congratulate the Ministers of Labour and Primary Industries on their move to ensure foreign vessels meet New Zealand safety and labour standards. We hope this decision will similarly bring benefits for our marine environment by reducing the occurrence of inappropriate and unsustainable fishing practices,” Katrina Subedar says.
However, Katrina Subedar says the inappropriate fishing practices highlighted in the Ministries’ announcement also occur within our domestic and chartered fleets, and the Government needs to improve monitoring of commercial fishing activity.
“Non-compliance is a major concern for both our seafood industry and long-term sustainability of our marine life.
“We’re looking forward to the Government using this kind of strong action against all vessels operating in New Zealand waters that continue to misreport by-catch and dump unwanted catch overboard,” she says.
“We need the level of independent observer
coverage raised to 100 per cent to protect our marine
wildlife and our fisheries, and if we are going to maintain
our credibility as a ‘clean green’ brand with consumers
overseas.”
ends
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