The Government’s backtrack on controversial proposals to remove minimum size limits for commercial fishers is a welcome step – but shouldn’t distract from wider problems with the Fisheries Amendment Bill, says the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) New Zealand.
“It’s good the Government is listening to New Zealanders’ concerns, but this U-turn doesn’t fix legislation that is fundamentally flawed,” says WWF-New Zealand spokesperson Caitlin Owers.
“The Bill should be scrapped in its entirety and replaced with proposals developed through a proper, transparent process with experts – not just written by Shane Jones’ mates in the fishing industry.”
“This Bill as it stands weakens environmental safeguards, reduces transparency, and gives industry more influence over a public resource that belongs to all New Zealanders,” she says.
The Fisheries Amendment Bill narrows environmental considerations when setting catch limits and restricts the public’s ability to challenge fisheries management decisions. It also blocks the release of onboard camera footage under the Official Information Act and imposes disproportionate fines of up to $50,000 on anyone who shares that footage.
“Cameras are our eyes and ears out at sea and are essential for understanding how commercial operators are interacting with threatened species – many of which are on the brink of extinction,” says Owers.
“We can’t afford to rush through these ill-conceived reforms that pander to industry lobbyists while putting the long-term sustainability of our ocean at risk.
“If the Prime Minister is serious about ensuring our kids and grandkids have ‘abundant fisheries for generations to come’, as he claims, then he needs to scrap this Bill in its entirety.”
WWF is encouraging people to contact their local MP or the Prime Minister and urge them to drop the Bill altogether.