Richard Prosser[MANIFESTO FINAL DRAFT - FISHERIES] June 17, 2014

FISHERIES

Overview:

New Zealand First believes that going fishing is a birthright for New Zealanders. In addition, our

Exclusive Economic Zone and the fisheries resource it contains is one of this country’s most valuable

assets. New Zealand First’s Fishing Policy aims to sustainably manage all aspects of saltwater fishing,

to preserve the right and ability of New Zealanders to enjoy sport fishing and to catch food from the

ocean, and to maximise the fishing industry’s returns to New Zealand in terms of jobs, wealth, and

export earnings. The Quota Management System has restructured commercial fishing, but there is

still scope for improvement, and in many regards it now requires re-examination.

Fundamentals:

New Zealand First’s Fisheries Policy is guided by a small number of simple fundamental drivers which

are intended to ensure sustainability, fairness, and maximum return, from the management of our

fisheries.

In order to guarantee these outcomes, fisheries management needs to ensure:

Best practice science and stock monitoring in support of sustainable harvest or Total

Allowable Catch

The accurate determination of customary and Recreational Fishers’ actual and reasonable

needs, based on reliable surveys, and priority given to Recreational and Customary Fishers’

allowances from maximum sustainable harvest, ahead of any commercial quota

The determination of the limit of an inshore fishery, and the exclusion of trawling and other

bulk commercial fishing methods within that determined inshore limit.

The exclusion of all bulk commercial fishing methods from areas of high juvenile abundance,

and the preservation of existing marine reserves and species protection areas

Consistent minimum legal size for Recreational and commercial Fishers, and restrictions on

commercial net size and type to ensure compliance with those parameters

The reliable and accurate monitoring of commercial boat operations and locations, and the

prohibition of dumping

That there be no licencing system for Recreational saltwater Fishers, and that the status of

existing game species is to be preserved.

That all fish caught in New Zealand waters is to be landed and processed in New Zealand.

This includes territorial waters and the EEZ, and applies to local, foreign, and foreign charter

vessels.

Detail:

Richard Prosser[MANIFESTO FINAL DRAFT - FISHERIES] June 17, 2014

Fish stocks: Sustainable management of our precious marine resources is essential. Our prime

inshore stocks have been under pressure for a long time. New Zealand First will ensure modern stock

targets are set to restore stocks were necessary. Best practice science and stock monitoring needs

to be supported by adequate resources and clear government standards.

Recreational and Customary Needs: One of the most important and fundamental foundations of

our society is the right of people to catch food from the wild. The People of New Zealand and the

needs of future generations will come first when setting allowances based on reliable surveys. No-

one wants to deny the commercial fishing industry the right to earn an honest living, but the fishery

belongs to the nation as a whole, and the needs of ordinary people must come first.

Inshore Fishery: The extent of the inshore fishery will be determined by region through

consultation with interest groups, but it is envisaged that in most regions it will typically be to the

12-mile territorial limit. In some regions a depth limit such as the 100m line may be more

appropriate than a distance limit. This inshore fishery must be the primary preserve of recreational

fishers. Commercial fishers will be compensated for the loss of access to bulk harvesting methods in

the inshore fishery.

No trawling will be permitted in the inshore fishery, and no commercial catch from the inshore

fishery will be allowed to be exported.

Where commercial fishing in the inshore is required in order to supply local trade (for example

coastal set netting for flat fish), this must be only in designated areas, and only by approved

methods.

Breeding Grounds and Designated Marine Reserve and Protection areas: To ensure

sustainability, fish populations must be allowed to breed. Areas and seasons when target fish species

are spawning must be identified, and the risk of disrupting spawning activity assessed and avoided in

those areas during those times. Restrictions on certain types of fishing activities in determined areas

will ensure that marine reserves and endangered species are protected.

Fish size and selectivity: Target fish species must have minimum and maximum allowable catch

sizes determined as necessary and appropriate. Juvenile fish must be allowed to grow to maturity,

and the biggest and oldest fish which are the best breeders must be preserved so that populations

can continue to regenerate. Size limits promote best use of the resource and must be the same for

both recreational and commercial fishers.

Modern methods and technologies such as those required by the European Union, including smart

nets which allow small fish to escape, and restrictions on certain types of nets and certain types of

trawling, will be phased in to minimise the number of under-and over-sized fish being caught.

The exclusion of trawling from the inshore fishery will help to ensure that a much greater proportion

of fish available to commercial fishers beyond the 12-mile line are above minimum legal size,

assisting with selectivity.

Monitoring and dumping: Observers on large fishing vessels will be augmented with video

surveillance and GPS monitoring on all commercial fishing vessels, to ensure that quota and

Richard Prosser[MANIFESTO FINAL DRAFT - FISHERIES] June 17, 2014

regulations are adhered to by commercial fishers. This will safeguard both the inshore fishery and

fish breeding grounds against any potential illegal commercial fishing activity. Schedule 6 will be

abolished, and all dumping of fish or parts of fish at sea by commercial fishers will be prohibited, as

has been proven to be effective by the highly successful Icelandic fishing industry. All fish caught

must be returned to port, to prevent wastage and to encourage compliance with quota and size

regulations.

Commercial fishers will be incentivised as well as regulated to ensure maximum compliance with

quota, size, and selectivity requirements.

Sport Fishing and licencing: Fishing is important to wide cross section of New Zealanders. New

Zealand First will ensure that there will be no saltwater fishing licencing system put in place. Our

sport fisheries will be maintained and promoted as world class.

In addition, the value of the recreational fishing sector, including sport fishing, to the New Zealand

economy, both as a source of foreign exchange from across the entire tourism industry, and as a

measure of economic activity generated by the involvement of more than 25% of the population in

recreational fishing, needs to be fully realised and maximised.

Suppliers of everything from boats and trailers, to tackle and bait, to accommodation, fuel, charter

operations, and many other requirements, derive a significant income from the activity of sport

fishing. It is a major contributor to the economies of many coastal towns and communities and must

be safeguarded.

Local processing and fishing industry involvement: All fish caught in New Zealand waters, both

territorial and the EEZ, by New Zealand, foreign, or Foreign Charter vessels, must be landed in New

Zealand, and any higher value processing must be carried out in New Zealand. The greatest part of

the value of the fishery is in processed and finished products. New Zealand First is committed to

maximising the returns to New Zealand industry and the New Zealand economy, by ensuring that

jobs are created in this country and that export earnings from this immensely valuable resource

deliver as much as is possible to New Zealand. New Zealand First supports moves to require all

vessels fishing in New Zealand territorial and economic zone waters to be New Zealand flagged, and

we aim to require and encourage maximum achievable crewing rates by New Zealand citizens and

permanent residents.