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Leader's LetterMARCH 2005
Fisheries Resources Must Be ProtectedThe passage of the Maori Fisheries Bill last year was the culmination of a long process of the allocation of fisheries resources to iwi as part of the Treaty settlement process. This represents full and final settlement of the fisheries resource, and means that the industry can now be developed to its fullest potential. Seafood is a prime export earner and employer, with annual earnings around $1billion. It requires competent,proactive management, and legislation which protects our fisheries resources.New Zealand First’s fisheries policy demonstrates our belief that a careful approach is needed to ensure the longterm viability and sustainability of this resource. Our policy also recognises the rights of recreational fishers to enjoy fishing, balanced with their shared responsibility to safeguard the sustainability of fish stocks. There are considerable obstacles that present serious challenges to these goals, and not surprisingly for this Government, funding is one of them.We have grave concerns that the Ministry is under-resourced, and that too few fisheries officers are struggling to combat increasing numbers of poachers who are using more and more sophisticated methods to avoid detection and to plunder greater amounts of fisheries resources,particularly paua. Poaching is also of concern at the outer reaches of the 200-mile zone, where detection is even more of a challenge to under-resourced detection agencies. The threat to species posed by poachers shouldn’t be understated. If you’ve ever walked around the coast and seen undersized paua shells littering the beach you’ll appreciate the necessity of combating this threat. It only adds insult to injury when the perpetrators who do get caught walk free due to shoddy laws. New Zealand First has long called on the Government to tighten the laws surrounding poaching so that there are no loopholes. Unfortunately, poaching isn’t the only threat. Fishing methods which produce large by-catches pose a threat to many species. New Zealand First will review the impact of modern fishing with a view to outlawing practices that jeopardise the existence of species, and adversely impact on the environment. The quota management system has now been in operation for almost 20 years and is pivotal in preventing the overfishing that has caused the depletion of fish stocks in many other parts of the world. The majority of species landed for sale are now managed under the QMS and voluntary compliance with the quota management regime is the only way to ensure its effectiveness. New Zealand First believes that public consultation on fisheries issues is vital to ensure that the interests of recreational, customary and commercial fishers are maintained and enhanced, and to ensure a level of certainty for the multi-billion dollar investment that underpins the industry. Pita Paraone MP
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