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

 

Industry welcomes considered approach to cameras on vessels

The New Zealand seafood industry has welcomed confirmation by Stuart Nash, the Fisheries Minister, that the Government is reconsidering a proposal to install cameras on all commercial fishing vessels.

Chief Executive of Seafood New Zealand, Tim Pankhurst, said the Minister’s statement that the Government will take a reasoned and pragmatic approach to ensure commercial fishers are obeying the law is welcomed.

Commercial fishers are obliged to report their catches, including all interactions with seabirds and marine mammals and we need to reassure the public that this is being done.

Chief Executive of Deepwater Group Ltd, George Clement supports this more open approach by Minister Nash and supports the call by Eugenie Sage, the Conservation Minister, for a greater commitment from industry to reduce bycatch.

“There are many effective and innovative practices already in place and further developments are underway,” Clement said.

“Recent allegations of misreporting are of concern and need to be remedied where they are, in fact, occurring. In response, the previous Government proposed the installation of cameras on all vessels, to deter illegal activities. Cameras have their place as one of a number of monitoring tools to verify catch reporting, but they are expensive and will not work in all applications.

“We welcome further transparency in the interests of better informing good fisheries management. However, there are many practical decisions around the use of cameras in private workspaces that remain unresolved. Monitoring tools must be fit for purpose. The original proposal was foisted on the industry without proper consultation and was simplistic, inadequate and unreasonably costly.

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.

“With one camera on each vessel the annual costs to industry for compliance and at sea monitoring would increase to $18,000 for each inshore vessel and $168,000 for each deep water vessel. Government has a duty of care to ensure monitoring is both effective and affordable. Cameras cannot replace at-sea observers, who measure the catch and collect biological samples to inform management decisions.

“It is reassuring to have a Government that is committed to getting this major step-change right to ensure that it delivers better fisheries management, improved transparency and enhances New Zealand’s reputation,” Clement said.

Minister Nash said today there were many options to address increased transparency, which could include more at-sea observers on vessels.

“What pleases the seafood industry is an unrushed and honest approach to find a solution that works for the vessel operators, the environment, and good fisheries management," Pankhurst said.

"We look forward to further discussions with Minister Nash and his officials."

© Scoop Media

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



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... 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.