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"When an industry backs itself with major investment, you know that they are optimistic for the future. And optimism has wide ripples.”
Seafood New Zealand's Lesley Hamilton told me that after the release of the New Zealand Government's Draft Fisheries Industry Transformation Plan.
Seafood New Zealand responded to the plan stating "When the seafood industry, already worth $5 billion to New Zealand, invests in its business, it is good for the entire country.
"Some 17,000 people rely on the industry for work, and a reinvigorated confidence in the industry’s future can only benefit the wider economy and those whose livelihoods are tied to seafood.'
Seafood New Zealand Chief Executive Dr Jeremy Helson says the fishing industry shares the Government’s vision of improving the environmental performance of commercial fisheries, increasing the value created from fishing, and providing support for the people doing the mahi.
“The collaborative approach to developing the plan has resulted in a positive way forward for the commercial fishing industry, building on the work we have already been doing,” Helson said.
“It may be called a ‘transformation’ plan, but the good work done by our fishers and fishing companies means we are not at ground zero. As food producers, our journey of improvement started a long time ago. Changes we have already made to lighten our environmental footprint, be more targeted and purposeful in what we do, innovate and adopt new technology, and improve the work life of fishers have been dramatic. Over the last 30 years in particular, fisheries management and industry’s proactive initiatives have seen fish populations bounce back, massive reductions in accidental seabird and mammal captures, and a low carbon footprint compared to other protein producers, for example.
“The draft plan highlights industry’s commitment to sustainable fishing – the fact that 96 percent of fish from known stocks, caught for consumers in 2022, were from fish stocks with no sustainability concerns. More than that – 70 percent of that catch was of fish stocks that are tracking above their management target.”
“The plan also acknowledges that New Zealand’s fishing grounds are carefully managed and highly productive. Around 30 per cent of our EEZ and 21 per cent of the Territorial Sea is closed to our most common commercial fishing methods, and we contact as little as 2 per cent of the seafloor in our EEZ each year.
“We realise there are still changes we need to make, but we won’t resile from change. Broader submissions to the draft plan will likely suggest some amendments, but a shared vision for a better future, and the industry’s willingness to continue to advance how we do things, makes this plan likely to succeed.”
“I support the focus on the areas of strengthening environmental performance, improving profitability and productivity, and supporting our people and communities."
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