Media release from Southern Storm Fishing Ltd

Statement on Ministerial Inquiry into foreign charter vessels

Christchurch company Southern Storm Fishing Ltd today welcomed a Ministerial Inquiry into the use of foreign-owned charter fishing vessels operating in New Zealand.

The company said it would give the inquiry its full co-operation and looked forward to being given the opportunity to lay to rest unsubstantiated and unfounded allegations made against it in the media. Through the inquiry, Southern Storm Fishing will comprehensively address all of the allegations made in respect of the company.

The company is co-operating fully with current investigations being conducted by the Ministry of Fisheries, Maritime New Zealand and the Labour Department as a result of unsubstantiated claims made by Indonesian crew members who left the company’s vessel Oyang 75 three weeks ago and have been in the care of Mr Daren Coulston, the proponent of a campaign against foreign fishing vessels in New Zealand.

Southern Storm Fishing has been the subject of an orchestrated campaign against it by individuals in the fishing industry whose aim is to convince the Government to deny all foreign-owned charter fishing vessels from operating in the New Zealand EEZ.

This is a campaign directed to cause economic and reputational damage to the company.
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