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Seafood Industry Welcomes Chatham Rock Decision
Chatham Rock Mining Decision a Win for the Environment Says Seafood Industry
The seafood industry applauded the
Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA) decision to
turn down Chatham Rock Phosphate’s (CRP) application to
mine the Chatham Rise area, a key fishing ground for New
Zealand.
“The EPA’s decision recognises that seabed mining is a relatively new industry which has many uncertainties, and that this was a risk not worth taking when it came to New Zealand’s marine environment,” says George Clement, Chief Executive of the Deepwater Group and Executive Chair of Seafood New Zealand.
“Had this venture on the Chatham Rise gone ahead it would have resulted in widespread habitat destruction, affecting water quality, the marine food web, benthic fauna, fish spawning and our conservation estate.
Chatham Rise is home to New Zealand’s most productive marine ecosystem and is recognised as a ‘hotspot’ habitat for juvenile fish including hoki, ling, silver warehou and white warehou.”
Mr Clement says that the EPA has also taken into account the existing rights of the seafood industry and Maori which have sustainably harvested seafood from the deepwater Chatham Rise for nearly half a century.
“We support New Zealand using its natural resources but not at such a cost.”
ENDS
Seafood New Zealand
Seafood New Zealand’s primarily focus is deepwater and inshore wild capture fisheries, but works closely with other sectors to ensure a thriving and sustainable seafood sector that is valued by New Zealanders and our trading partners.
New Zealand's seafood industry plays a key role in the country's economy, contributing around $2 billion in export earnings and employing more than 16,500 people, who provide New Zealand and the world with high quality, nutritious and great tasting seafood.
The seafood industry is committed to providing high quality careers in local communities through our sustainable and innovative provision of safe seafood.
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