Seafood industry committed to sustainability

Seafood industry committed to sustainability

1 Febuary 2008

The New Zealand seafood industry supports sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture said New Zealand Seafood Industry Council Chief Executive Owen Symmans in response to the government’s State of the Environment Report 2007. Sustaining our fisheries requires careful management of fish stocks and the New Zealand QMS (quota management system) is recognized internationally as one of the best in the world. New Zealand aquaculture receives international recognition for its environmentally friendly production, he said.

“The industry has made a significant contribution to sustainability of the marine environment with a range of activities since the last report in 1997. These include the Benthic Protection Areas which have closed more than 30% of New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone to bottom trawling; voluntary fishing closures to protect habitats, marine species and breeding grounds; developing gear technology to minimize impact; improved energy efficiency; and development of technologies and codes of pratice to mitigate by catch of seabirds and marine mammals,” Mr Symmans said.

If the seafood industry is to continue to produce food, and provide employment and economic returns for New Zealand over the long term, we must continue to operate in an environmentally sustainable way, he said.

“As an export industry we are very aware of the market importance of safe and sustainable environmental practice – being ‘clean and green’and keeping it that way. As New Zealanders, we also want our marine resource to be there for our children and grandchildren.”

ENDS

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