Indian Newslink 15th Sept 2016 Digital Edition

SEPTEMBER 15, 2016
18 BUSINESSLINK
With constant denial, we are fishing for trouble
David Shearer
In the eyes of the world, New
Zealand is an unspoiled island
paradise: rich in natural resources,
peaceful and beautiful to
boot.
If we want to keep that reputation
and more importantly stay a
clean and lovely place to live, it’s
going to take work.
As we have seen this month
with the drinking water crisis
in Havelock North, we cannot
expect to increase our industrial
demands of our country’s land
and waterways, and naively
expect the environment to stay
as clean and green as it’s always
been.
Illegal fishing
The same is true of our seas.
Since 2004, just 1% of
prosecutions of illegal fishing
were for fish dumping – where
fish not the right size or species
are tipped over the side; which
tells me that either our fishing
industry is incredibly honest,
or the Government Ministry for
Primary Industries (MPI) is not
doing its job as it should and
clamping down on illegal fishing.
Unfortunately, it looks to be
the latter. MPI prefers to look
the other way and cosy up to the
fishing industry.
A study released in May this year, in
collaboration with Oxford and Auckland
universities, revealed that the number of
fish caught in New Zealand waters has
been under-reported for six decades.
It estimates that the true catch is nearly
three times official figures.
It also showed systematic fish dumping
and misreporting.
Absurd lethargy
If MPI was serious about protecting New
Zealand’s fishery, it would have swung into
action. Instead, the Government Minister
for Primary Industries Nathan Guy criticised
the report as being inaccurate.
The problem for the Minister Guy was
that a few days later a report was leaked
from MPI itself, revealing that its own
fisheries inspectors believe between 20-
100 percent of some quota fish are being
dumped during every haul. It went on to
say that because MPI did not prosecute offenders
it is encouraging further dumping
and bad practices.
MPI has refused to release the report,
‘Operation Archilles.’ Clearly, it wants to
hide how it refuses to prosecute fishing
boats blatantly dumping fish.
Political ploy
Once again given the evidence MPI
should swing into action against dumping.
Instead, it went into a tailspin and announced
it will conduct an inquiry into the
fish dumping – that’s a well-used political
ploy to put the issue on the backburner
and cover it up.
A company, Trident Systems, is contracted
to conduct the survey.
The only problem – Trident is 42%
owned by Sanford and 27% owned by Moana
Pacific Fisheries, both big commercial
fishing enterprises.
In other words, MPI has asked a
company owned by the fishing industry
to investigate wrong-doing in the fishing
industry. How trustworthy or independent
is that?
Wrong pursuit
Meanwhile, our fisheries inspectors
are spending time pursuing recreational
fishers, whose catch by comparison to the big
operators is insignificant.
The bulk of prosecutions are against recreational
fishers.
Even so, overall prosecutions against illegal
fishing are one-quarter of what they were five
years ago.
This is not the first time New Zealand’s
overfishing problem has hit the news headlines.
Three years ago, when evidence of dumping
was apparent, MPI reassured us that cameras
and GPS equipment would be installed on
commercial fishing vessels.
Why hasn’t that happened? Most fishing boats
still do not have camera surveillance on board.
Gross incompetence
I would have thought installing that sort of
equipment is a reasonably simple thing to do.
Cameras and GPS equipment are relatively
inexpensive, they can be purchased easily, and
are straightforward to install.
Cameras were made compulsory in taxis,
for example, and drivers were given just a few
weeks to comply.
Of course, where vessels are fitted with cameras,
is anyone bothering to check the footage – or
as we have seen pursuing prosecution?
So why is it taking so long, why the procrastination,
why the lack of action on a problem that
is becoming acute day after day?
Either its is extraordinary incompetence on
the part of MPI and the government, or sadly
it is looking like it could be something much
worse.
But as a country that prides ourselves on our
care of the environment we deserve transparency,
answers and above all, action.
David Shearer is an elected Member of
Parliament from Mt Albert in Auckland
and Labour Party’s spokesman for Foreign
Affairs.
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