25 September 2007

Sinking lid limits will sink fish stocks

The Government's newly announced fisheries catch limits appear to be based on a sinking lid theory promoted by the fishing industry that will eventually see our waters devoid of life, the Green Party says.

Fisheries Spokesperson Metiria Turei says the precautionary principle must be paramount in protecting our natural fishery resources if there is to be thriving stocks to sustain both our needs and those of the ocean ecosystem.

"While it is good that the Minister's announcement today will see a broad series of reductions to the fisheries quota for the 2007/8 fishing year, there is however, a lack of a paramount precautionary principle," she says.

The Minister has used what powers he has under the Fisheries Act to make some reductions to total allowable catch quotas. While unpalatable to industry, these conservative reductions are critical for the long-term viability of the fish stocks both for biodiversity and continued utilisation.

"However, I am disappointed about the very small reduction in the quota for Orange Roughy on the Chatham Rise (9.5%) as well as the raising of the quota of one Hoki fishery to absorb the reduction in another. The Orange Roughy fishery has been in steady decline for 20 years and this sinking lid Quota Management System has failed to address the problem. Closure of this fishery is the only rational option until it is proven that it can be fished sustainably.

"The need for today's significant reductions should be proof enough that quota management system is just not working. While there will be variability in stocks from year to year and many scientific unknowns, the broader trend is a marked decline and this highlights the need for the QMS to operate within a broader framework. Indeed, the lack of knowledge makes it all the more important to place caution first," she says.

"I am particularly pleased to see the cuts to the North Island commercial catch of the long and short finned eels. Long finned eel populations are simply not sustainable. The Minister is right to prioritise customary and recreational catch rather than commercial."

ENDS

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