Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

LegaSea calls for a Commission of Inquiry into fisheries

21 September 2016

A Commission of Inquiry is the only answer

Leaked documents show the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has been aware of widespread fish dumping for years yet not acted to prosecute the offending commercial fishers. These papers highlight deeply rooted problems with the management of fisheries. Now recreational fishing and environmental interests are calling for a Commission of Inquiry into the Quota Management System (QMS).

A leading investigator, Michael Heron QC, was appointed in May to investigate the reasons why no prosecutions were taken against commercial operators who were caught on video dumping quota species. The Heron Report acknowledges the decision was “flawed,” the QMS was complex and that, in general, the Ministry’s systems are robust.

Recreational fishing group LegaSea says that there are obvious and longstanding issues with the QMS that must be addressed. One sticking point is the video surveillance and monitoring of the commercial fleet. MPI has recently awarded the contract for this work to an industry owned company. Another issue is the close relationship between MPI and commercial fishing interests where often the lines of separation are blurred.

LegaSea says the public can be rightly concerned about these issues and the only reasonable response is a Commission of Inquiry.

“Blatant dumping of fish is bad enough, however, the real issue is that officials identified years ago that discarding is a systemic failure of the current system that they have not be able to address since day one of the QMS. MPI also know that the level of discards is so great that it is impacting on stock levels and the marine environment,” say spokesperson Scott Macindoe.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“If it wasn’t for the draft reports being leaked to an independent researcher, the New Zealand public would be none the wiser.”

Macindoe says the Minister, Nathan Guy, has been poorly advised by his department.

“An external party, such as the State Services Commission or Department of Internal Affairs, needs to be brought in to review the current situation,” he said.

LegaSea believes MPI suffers from industry capture, where it is no longer overseeing the industry but rather partnering with it, and that sets a poor precedent.

“We want an abundant fishery in the future so we are reclaiming our fisheries for the people of New Zealand. If we need to hasten that process by supporting a Commission of Inquiry then we’re in boots and all.”

A Commission of Inquiry must meet certain thresholds to be implemented:

• there is considerable public anxiety about the matter

• a major lapse in Government performance appears to be involved

• circumstances giving rise to the inquiry are unique with few or no precedents

• the issue cannot be dealt with through the normal machinery of Government or through the criminal or civil courts

• the issue is in an area too new, complex or controversial for mature policy decisions to be taken.

LegaSea believes this issue meets these criteria and calls on the Minister to respond accordingly.

“Over 600,000 people go fishing every year in New Zealand and the single biggest complaint we hear is that MPI is turning a blind eye to the destruction of our fisheries. The Minister has to act if he’s to retain the faith of the public on this matter,” says Macindoe.

ENDS


© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.