The New Zealand Seafood Industry Council is dismayed that the Minister of Fisheries John Luxton has attacked the Council over its criticism of the effects of Fisheries Amendment Bill No 3.

General Manager Trade and Information Alastair Macfarlane said Mr Luxton has criticised the Seafood Industry Council for asserting that the bill places New Zealand law above that of other nations.

“We stand by our assessment of this ill advised legislation and its effects on the New Zealand Seafood Industry, We believe that we will see some of our companies forced to rethink basing their operations in this country.”

“The Ministry of Fisheries was humbled recently by the acknowledgement by Parliament that the 1996 Fisheries Act was an unworkable piece of legislation. Industry officials worked closely with Ministry officials to help them rectify the problems with that legislation.”

“However, yet again the Minister of Fisheries has chosen to accept the flawed advice of the Ministry on an International Fisheries issue despite the protestations by the industry that it will be detrimental to the New Zealand Seafood Industry and is indeed an overkill with serious economic ramifications.”

“What we will predict is that that once the Ministry sees large established fishing companies relocate overseas they will be forced yet again to back down and rework the legislation. The industry is not crying wolf over this issue. It is genuinely concerned that it will hamper the growth of responsible global fishing effort by New Zealand companies.”

ENDS

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