Cablegate: New Zealand Thoughts On Unga Fisheries Resolution
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHWL #0699 2480529
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 050529Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3236
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 4527
RUEHSV/AMEMBASSY SUVA 0511
UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000699
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
EAP/ANP DRICCI AND OES/OMC DHOGAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIS SENV PHSA NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND THOUGHTS ON UNGA FISHERIES RESOLUTION
AND BOTTOM TRAWLING
REF: SECSTATE 137745
1. (SBU) Summary: GNZ is developing its official policy on
the UNGA fisheries resolution and bottom trawling but is
likely to support our position. GNZ is concerned that the
UNGA and Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMOs)
mandates may clash. Working level GNZ officials will provide
more information on the GNZ position once it receives
guidance from ministers, expected about September 10. End
summary.
2. (U) On August 25, Poloff delivered reftel text to Felicity
Buchanan, Deputy Director, Environment Division, MFAT, and on
August 29 joined her on a previously arranged conference call
with David Hogan, OES/OMC.
3. (U) Buchanan expressed appreciation for reftel points as a
way to establish focus around the issue. She said that
MFAT's Environment Division is taking the lead on GNZ's
preparations for UN discussions on bottom trawling, in
coordination with the Ministry of Fisheries, Department of
Conservation, New Zealand's International Development Agency
(NZAID), and the Treasury. They are aiming to get
instructions from Ministers by September 10.
3. (U) Buchanan noted that bottom trawling is on the notional
agenda for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in
October in Suva and the second meeting of the South Pacific
Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO) in Hobart
in November. GNZ is looking for a consistent position that
does not conflict with the separate mandates of UNGA, the UN
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the several
regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs).
4. (SBU) While there is still no official GNZ position,
Buchanan predicted New Zealand would support the U.S. view.
"New Zealand has been pretty vocal that the UN should do
something about bottom trawling, and that RFMOs and Flag
States should do something as well." She said that New
Zealand would be open to the idea of a timetable as well as
an FAO role. Buchanan also suggested that it might be less
problematic for the UN to manage fisheries outside of the
various RFMOs as there would clearly be no mandate overlap in
that case.
5. (SBU) Buchanan does not expect to be at UNGA in October,
but plans to come to New York in November when she
anticipates that the text will be negotiated. She added that
Jenny McIver, from the New Zealand Mission in New York, will
represent New Zealand in at the October UNGA meeting.
McCormick