The TEAM at LEGASEAFOCUS New Zealand Party fully supports the 5 principles LegaSea have developed. We believe these are well thought out and workable. Reiterating the principles targets we agree that FOCUS New Zealand will seek to:

1) Set a default 40% minimum target for fish stocks at 40% of the original size that existed in the absence of fishing.

2) Reduce wastage through a better understanding of the problem, the introduction of measures that will reduce incriminate catches and fish deaths such as banning trawling within the 100m contour. There should be no secrets the Trawl Mortality Report for example should be released and further studies done to get an accurate figure on the level of wastage in the fishing industry. We would also look towards introducing measures that penalise wastage and set specific targets of waste minimisation. If these targets are not met then additional measures would be introduced. There are many good ideas put forward and each will need to be investigated option in terms of effectiveness and viability. We would prefer to see no dumping of dead fish at sea.

3) Establish a royalty on commercial fishing so that the nation can get fair compensation for the private utilisation of the resources that we all own. We agree that that the New Zealand fishing stocks are publicly owned and are the property of New Zealand.

4) Revise the size limits on fish so that the minimum size limits imposed on the recreational fishermen apply also to commercial catches.

5) Better understanding the value of the New Zealand fishing sectors, particularly the recreational, fishery to New Zealand. This study ought to consider the impact on our marine environment, its people, and its economy. We recognise the cultural importance of fishing stock to Maori and this to ought to be included in the study.

FOCUS New Zealand is also concerned about the high number of foreign vessels and crews from countries such as Russia, Korea, China, and Indonesia to benefit from exploitatively cheap labour costs and the competitive difficulty it imposes on New Zealand commercial fishermen.

FOCUS New Zealand would require all foreign vessels to setup a New Zealand company and operate as a New Zealand company subject to all New Zealand company laws while fishing in New Zealand waters. This simple approach would mean a level playing fields where New Zealand owned vessels can compete fairly. The foreign vessels would be faced with the same compliance costs, ACC, minimum wage, gst, income tax, etc as New Zealand vessels and would ensure New Zealand taxpayers are not subsidising foreign vessels for the services and benefit they use while in New Zealand waters.

TU TANGATA.!!

Julian Fairlie

Vice President FOCUS New Zealand