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

 

Concerns with suggestion to “scrap” fishing monitoring

Deep concerns with suggestion to “scrap” fishing electronic monitoring

Environmental organisation WWF-New Zealand is deeply concerned by suggestions from the new Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash that he might “scrap” plans to put cameras on fishing boats.

The previous government committed to a roll out of electronic monitoring with cameras on fishing boats in July 2017. Late last year, Minister Nash delayed the roll out of these cameras onto fishing boats by at least six months to sometime after October 2018. Today, the Minister is suggesting that completely cancelling the camera monitoring program is now an option.

In response, WWF-New Zealand CEO Livia Esterhazy said: “Putting cameras on boats would be a game-changer for New Zealand’s endangered marine mammals and sea birds. Cancelling this program would be shameful. Greater transparency in the fishing industry is essential to demonstrate to national and global consumers that New Zealand is serious about ensuring sustainable fisheries for the future.”

“Putting cameras on boats won’t save our dolphins from being accidentally killed in fishing nets, but it would provide crucially-important data to help the government and the public make informed decisions about reducing accidental killings of protected sea birds, dolphins and sea lions, and address reports about large-scale illegal fish dumping.

“Cancelling the electronic monitoring program would threaten both our marine life and our reputation as a seafood producer.”

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.

The previous government consulted extensively about implementing cameras on New Zealand fishing boats. WWF-New Zealand has attended these stakeholder consultation meetings for 10 months, alongside fishing industry representatives.

“Numerous governments all over the world already require commercial fishing boats to have cameras on board. Putting cameras on commercial fishing boats in New Zealand is achievable. The technology is available and ready for implementation. Its worth has been proven across similar fisheries around the globe.

“Our Pacific neighbours, like Fiji and the Solomon Islands, are making this work with far less economic resources than New Zealand. There’s no reason the government can’t get this done by October.”

© 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.