Richard Prosser MP

Spokesperson for Fisheries
20 JANUARY 2016
Keep Fishing Jobs in New Zealand

Giving away fishing jobs to foreign industry is economic madness, says New Zealand First.

“Instead of getting value from our fish we are throwing workers on the scrapheap and allowing fish to be processed offshore,” says New Zealand First Fisheries Spokesperson Richard Prosser.

“We should get as much out of this precious resource as possible and sending the work offshore must be stopped.

“More and more jobs are being lost, this time at Sealord in Nelson. The fact that our fish processing factories cannot compete with offshore processing is testament to the folly of failing to protect our industries and workers.

“Often the overseas processing is done by workers on low wages and often under slave-like conditions.

"Iceland is an example of a country which recognises its fisheries resource as a source of great economic wealth, a high-value product that gives Icelanders one of the highest standards of living in the world.

“The government should recognise the value of the fishing industry and ensure that all fish caught in New Zealand waters is landed and processed in New Zealand. New Zealand First would,” says Mr Prosser.

ENDS

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