NZOFP Fisheries Policy
Let’s put the fish back into fishing so all New Zealanders can enjoy our Great Outdoors heritage of catching and eating fish.
We will instigate a new fishery management system that protects and enhances fisheries resources for the people of New Zealand. This will provide greater recreational and customary access to inshore fisheries and encourage offshore fisheries to be utilised to benefit New Zealanders.
What are the goals of the Outdoors Party Fishery Policy?
The fisheries Quota Management System (QMS) is about resource sustainability and economic efficiency. However the way this is currently implemented has severely depleted the biomas of many species and has resulted in loss of access to recreational and customary fishers. The NZ Outdoors & Freedom Party supports LegaSea, its ideas and advocacy for greater abundance.
What are the principals of fishery management?
Any successful fisheries management regime must the support and respect of the citizens and be based on strong principles. The set of principles LegaSea has adopted in it’s Rescue Fisheries Strategy are:
- All fisheries laws will conform with the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
- The living marine resources of Aotearoa New Zealand are owned by the people of New Zealand and must be managed by the government for the benefit of the people of New Zealand. These resources cannot become the private property of corporations or by sold to overseas interests.
- All fisheries must be biologically, economically, and socially sustainable. The legislation will prevent private sales of licences or fishing rights.
- To the greatest extent possible, commercial fishing rights will be granted in line with the principles of a market-based system. Commercial fishing permits will be tendered.
- Catches must be landed in New Zealand and processed here for added value.
- Only New Zealand owned and registered companies, or private New Zealand citizens, paying taxes in New Zealand and complying with all relevant employment and maritime law will be able to participate in New Zealand’s commercial fisheries.
- In the Territorial Sea there will be complete fleet separation. That is, only vessel owners will be eligible to own and operate a permit. There is no vertical integration permitted.
What has the current system done to benefit local fishers?
The current Quota Management System has privatised the once public fishery and remove it from the public’s ownership to allow private control over what was a public resource.
What have been the Social Impacts?
The current Quota Management system has concentrated the right to fish in the hands of few and that has removed the local regional commercial fisherman from the market. The price of fish has escalated so it is not affordable for New Zealanders.
We encourage local people to manage local fisheries and local wharf sales of fish by community fishers.
Customary fishers, and recreational fishers, all need an abundant and productive inshore fisheries resource.