Baldock appalled by foreign vessel abuse

United Future fisheries spokesman Larry Baldock today reiterated his colleague Paul Adam’s call that foreign charter fishing vessels need to clean up their act or be banned, in the wake of allegations of physical abuse and maltreatment of their crew.

“That sort of behaviour is absolutely disgraceful and there is no place for it in any New Zealand industry, or through those who contract into our industries,” Mr Baldock said.

“The Government needs to tell these operators that this sort of behaviour is utterly unacceptable and will never be tolerated in New Zealand,” he said in the wake of yesterday’s long-awaited report into foreign crew on New Zealand-owned fishing vessels. The report touched on foreign charter vessels.

He said such behaviour only compounded the questionable pay and employment conditions under which many crew on these vessels work.

“United Future has consistently called for fair treatment of these and all workers who operate within New Zealand waters. There are some basic standards of fairness and decency that we as a nation should hold in all employment matters.

“Getting paid fairly and not getting hit should go without saying,” Mr Baldock said.

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