November 2, 2020
Embarrassment. In 2014 fisheries officials discussed the merits of releasing or not releasing damning evidence of illegal and wasteful practices by commercial fishers. They discussed the potential backlash if the evidence was withheld by the Ministry and later discovered and made public. The 2016 report by Michael Heron QC details this discussion in relation to […]
November 2, 2020
Because there is a lack of available research funding. The system is set up so that quota holders have a major influence on where the research funding is spent. This means that research funding is targeted towards fish stocks that may deliver greater catch limits, not necessarily the fish stocks that are depleted (in trouble) […]
November 2, 2020
Fisheries New Zealand pays for stock assessment research and may collect levies from quota owners as part payment, depending on the stock. Quota owners sometimes pay for research if they consider there is development potential in a particular fishery
November 2, 2020
The Quota Management System is the framework that determines how our fish stocks are managed. The system is set up so that quota holders have a major influence on where the research funding is spent. This means that research funding is targeted towards fish stocks that may deliver greater catch limits, not necessarily the fish […]
November 2, 2020
Alternatives to trawling include long lining and trapping. While these alternative methods may be more time consuming they generally deliver better quality fish which ought to attract a higher value return.
November 2, 2020
It is unknown how long it would take for an area to recover from trawling because no one in New Zealand has deliberately stopped trawling and supported a research project on recovery rates.
November 2, 2020
The Minister of Fisheries has a statutory obligation to ‘ensure sustainability’. He needs to know how many fish to set aside to account for expected mortality before he can allocate any fish for commercial catch. More cautious catch limits need to be set when there is greater uncertainty around mortality levels.
November 2, 2020
When setting total catch limits for a particular fishery, the Minister of Fisheries sets aside a tonnage of fish to allow for the mortality caused by all fishing. This could be fish killed by trawling and other methods, fish that drop out of nets and unseen mortality, fish that die after fishing has occurred. This […]
July 28, 2020
Catch limits in mixed finfish fisheries will be set to account for those species that live or move together. Fixed term commercial permits will be conditioned by Output limits. Output limits will replace the existing quota limits for single species. Output limits will be described as equivalents to account for mixed species catches. All catches […]
