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Summarised by Centrist
The government has withdrawn a proposal in the Fisheries Amendment Bill that would have removed most minimum size limits for commercial fishers, following public opposition.
As originally drafted, the bill would have allowed commercial vessels to land and sell small fish, including snapper and tarakihi. Fisheries Minister Shane Jones had argued the change would reduce wastage.
Earlier in the week, he described critics as “noisy voices,” but coalition parties later announced on social media they had listened to public feedback and would not proceed with the size limit changes.
ITM Fishing Show host Matt Watson described the change as a “win” showing “what people power can do,” but said the bill still contains provisions he opposes, including fish dumping rules, reduced fines for quota breaches, and changes to environmental considerations.
LegaSea project lead Sam Woolford said removing the size limit proposal was insufficient.
The Environmental Law Initiative raised concerns about broader amendments. Director of research and legal, Dr Matt Hall, argued some changes may conflict with New Zealand’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Seafood New Zealand chief executive Lisa Futschek argued the original proposal would have strengthened incentives for commercial fishers to avoid catching small fish because they would have had to balance those fish against quota.
She described the proposed changes as “net positive for the environment and for sustainability of our resource.”
Debate continues over other elements of the Fisheries Amendment Bill.
Image: Stuartyeates
