New Zealand’s largest Māori-owned fishing company has been a vocal supporter of cameras on boats and has voluntarily had cameras onboard their entire inshore contract trawl fishing fleet for the past eight years.
However, Moana says the Ministry for Primary Industries has more work to do before it presses go on the promised rollout of cameras onboard fishing vessels.
In a joint submission with Te Ohu Kaimoana on the Government’s plan to install cameras on up to 300 inshore fishing vessels by the end of 2024, Moana says Māori interests have been seriously neglected.
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Moana CEO Steve Tarrant says, “We support the initiative and see it as positive, but we are concerned about the inadequate inclusion of Māori, both in terms of people and perspective, in the consultation process.”
Tarrant said the fragmented approach to the consultation had also resulted in crucial pieces of corresponding policy, such as the fisheries cost recovery framework and Fisheries Amendment Bill falling out of sync, completely removing the ability to take a holistic approach.
“Knowing these pieces intersect but not understanding the intersections is a concern. There has been no time to test the merits and the pitfalls of the oceans reform agenda as a package, which flies in the face of everything we stand for as a Māori business and how we operate.”
Moana warns that the cost to roll out and operate the cameras also wants careful consideration.
“The $68M price tag to implement cameras on inshore will directly impact Māori and Iwi quota owners,” says Tarrant.
These costs will directly impact the value of quota and settlement assets, undermining what was agreed on in the treaty settlement. These additional costs will also significantly impact prices for domestic consumers here in Aotearoa.
He added that the rollout presented a genuine opportunity that the Government was missing out on.
“As an early adopter of cameras, we’re very experienced with them. We appreciate the role that cameras play in increasing transparency, confidence and trust between fishers, customers, Government and the general public. Still, the rollout must be carefully managed,” says Tarrant, “and we need to keep in mind what current camera technology is and is not capable of doing.”
“There’s a risk that those outside the fishing industry are expecting too much from cameras, thinking of them as a solve-all transparency solution. But the technology isn’t there yet,” warns Tarrant.
“When it comes to cameras on vessels, we have always said they are just one tool to ensure we operate with care, and one we would love to see developed further. Scientifically informed stock-specific harvest strategies, total allowable catch limits, credible discard policies and set deem values are also critical to a well-balanced and well-managed fishery,” says Tarrant.
“We also promote investment in fishing technology like Precision Seafood Harvesting, upskilling fishers through responsible fisher programmes and actively partaking in seabird and dolphin protection initiatives,” says Tarrant. “The more touchpoints we consider as kaitiaki, the better, and we know that together, these initiatives are greater than the sum of their parts.”
Moana New Zealand has also operated cameras on several longline vessels for the past four years under a joint effort between the fishing industry, DOC and MPI in research that has shown cameras work as effectively as human observers to monitor seabird bycatch.
Moana New Zealand’s GM Inshore Mark Ngata says, “I congratulate our contract fishers and others in the industry that have participated in our Electronic Monitoring and other programmes over the past eight years. They have done a significant amount of voluntary work to ensure better fishing practices, and we’re proud of them for that”.
ENDS
About Moana New Zealand
Iwi are the true guardians of the world’s most pristine and sustainably managed fisheries. Moana New Zealand is the largest Māori-owned fisheries company in Aotearoa. It has a deep sense of responsibility to all people, respect for kaimoana and kai ora, and is dedicated to the wellbeing of future generations. It connects the world to the taste and magic of New Zealand’s best kaimoana.
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