Harvest footprint project – Moana New Zealand

Lightening our Harvest Footprint

_guided by values,
driven by responsibility

Our Harvest Footprint Project

Harvesting kaimoana is woven into the DNA of Māori—it’s a timeless tradition that shows manaaki when kaimoana is offered, but we know how we harvest reflects a special kind of manaaki as well—to te taiao, Tangaroa and Hinemoana.This reciprocity fuels our potential as a business owned by all 58 Iwi across the motu. So, to live up to our values and to achieve our goals set out in Hononga Tūturu, it’s imperative to lighten our harvest footprint.

What is the Harvest Footprint Project?

Moana contract fishers are mostly small and regionally-based businesses. They are at the heart of what we do. With their with support, knowledge and expertise, Moana has created the Harvest Footprint Project to better understand the environment and gear our fishers operate in their wild harvest journey. They are keen innovators and have a passion for the ocean that is more often than not, intergenerational. They care for the health and wellbeing of the ocean and healthy fish stocks.

At its centre, the Harvest Footprint Project contains three pillars:

1. Having responsible fishers

Ensuring our contract fishers are well supported through our Responsible Fisher Programme and continue to display exemplary behaviours on the water. All of our contract trawl vessels and some longline fishing vessels have been operating with cameras on boats since 2015.

2. Understanding where we do/don’t fish

We’ve implemented a mapping tool to analyse the size and location of our harvest footprint over time. We’ll map habitats of significance that directly influence fisheries management. We want to understand better hot spots so all fishers can make informed decisions on where best to fish. With data, we can analyse any gaps within our knowledge base. When we have collated all of the data, we’ll be able to overlay our harvest footprint with habitats of significance. We’re very pleased to have the trust and confidence of our contract fishers to collect their data, all to lighten our touch.

3. Lightening fishing gear

Surveying our contract fishers to explore innovations and aspirations for ongoing improvements in fishing gear is our goal. Moana engaged Terra Moana and Dr Steve Eayrs to conduct an independent survey of Moana contract fishers and what types of gear and methods they use. This survey serves as a baseline for future research of fishing methods. Read Dr Eayrs’s report here:

“I was surprised and encouraged

to hear of the progress Moana New Zealand contract fishers have made towards reducing trawl impacts on the seabed. They have made great strides replacing many trawl components and operating their trawl gear in a way to minimise seabed impacts and many are eager to make further progress.”

Dr Steve Eayrs, leading international fisheries researcher

Why is this project important?

Through this project, we seek to gain better understanding of current fishing practices and what innovations and modifications are possible to lighten our harvest footprint. This knowledge will guide meaningful changes as we continue to improve on methods and learn from those who do it best—our fishers. We also invite any organisation outside of our current project to join us in this journey. Contact us for more information on how to take part in our project.