Policy | 2014

Fisheries HIGHLIGHTS

Introduction New Zealand enjoys enormous benefits from its seas and coastal areas and the extraordinary opportunities offered in the development of marine resources. None of us live more than 140 kilometres from a coast and the marine environment is a fundamental part of New Zealand life.

New Zealand’s fisheries resource is hugely important to our overall economy and for our recreational fishers but it could be even more important if we can create greater sustainable value from our oceans and the fish we catch and farm. We need to extract more value from existing species and products.

However, realising the full potential of these benefits and opportunities is often inhibited by the lack of a cohesive approach to a complex ecosystem in which many have rights to or obligations to manage.

Labour’s overarching goal is to see an internationally competitive and profitable seafood industry that makes a significant contribution to our economy and abundance for our recreational fishers while also protecting the environment and reducing adverse effects on our fisheries resources.

Core Principles The core principle of Labour’s fisheries policy is that it will take an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management and decision-making. This approach will not compromise the existence or range of genetic diversity within and between marine species. The precautionary approach will inform decisions around environmental sustainability where information is uncertain, unreliable or inadequate.

Our approach to fisheries should be one of balance where the competing priorities of commercial and recreational fishers is offset by the use of sustainable fishing practices and improved environmental performance. We must all work together to protect our fisheries resources for future generations.

To do this we need to build on our understanding of our marine environment. Lack of knowledge about marine species and their significant role in maintaining the integrity and resilience of marine ecosystems remains a risk.

Labour will:

• Focus on increasing the value of our fisheries while maintaining sustainability including

expanding accelerated depreciation to the sector.

• Improve access for recreational fishers to New Zealand’s coastal fisheries.

• Encourage further development of New Zealand’s aquaculture industry.

   

                                           

The key priorities for our fisheries policy are:

• build greater abundance of fish stocks to increase sustainable use by all stakeholders

• support initiatives that build more value from our marine resources

• minimise the impact of commercial and recreational fishing practices on marine ecosystems

• maximise opportunities to achieve best market access and price for fish protein

• designate and support a network of reserves and MPAs to complement our marine ecosystems

• facilitate wise cultural use to build the strength and value of our marine heritage

• acknowledge the rights and expectations of both recreational and cultural fisheries stakeholders.

Creating value It is easy to talk about adding value to a product but this can be very difficult to achieve. Even when successful, the further challenge is to capture a fair share of the value in market and bring that back to New Zealand. The companies that have achieved success are those that have secured control over more of their value chain, have unique products, and control the intellectual property.

This requires an enabling framework that allows stakeholders to create optimal economic, social and cultural value from their rights and interests.

The range and extent of the differing fisheries interests, uses and values mean that all stakeholders, whether commercial, recreational, customary fishers, or those with primarily environmental interests, have a role to play in achieving greater economic value creation, reducing costs to industry while also acting to maintain the integrity of the marine environment on which fisheries resources depend.

We must move away from simply moving volume. The industry has to break out of a ‘produce, process, flog’ mentality. Adding value is often touted as the answer to all our problems but our tendency to stick with the tried-and-true is one of the biggest impediments to growing value-add.

Growing the value of our production relies heavily on the industry improving its ability to effectively market and sell on a product’s attributes rather than just on price.

As an example of this, if New Zealand’s wild fisheries are recognised internationally as being environmentally sustainable, they can attract a premium price. If value can be added to our fisheries exports in this way, further economic benefit can be attained. This must be our objective.

Labour will:

promote growth through innovations in existing and new areas, species, products and markets

develop a model in the value chain to maximise the opportunities and value from New Zealand’s wild fisheries resource, using the wisdom gained from Iceland’s practices.

   

                                           

New Zealand’s modest accelerated depreciation regime (depreciation loading) was abolished by the current National government in 2010. This gave an increased tax incentive to investing in vessels and equipment in New Zealand. With increased accelerated depreciation for the fishing industry the sector will have greater incentive to invest in the fishing vessels and equipment we need.

Labour will:

expand accelerated depreciation to the fisheries sector.

Sustainability The basic requirement of sustainability – both ecological and economic – is that due consideration is given to the on-going nature of the supply and the overall ecological resilience of the resource. Economic sustainability tends to have a short to medium-term focus while ecological sustainability requires a long-term focus. Therein lies the fundamental tension that must be managed.

If we are to promote the sustainable development of our marine assets we must recognise the diverse range of commercial interests and factors and the legitimate expectations of recreational fishers in the marine areas and clearly establish where and how they relate to each other.

Building consensus and understanding the many values, interests and risks involved in doing this is a huge undertaking. Piecemeal fiddling with current fisheries systems has characterised development and management practices in the past. New ways of managing and investing in the marine world are needed. The marine sector is no different to any other sector in that it also requires stakeholders to step back and take a longer-term, strategic approach to the industry.

The pressures, opportunities and potential of our fisheries need to be considered and articulated. This will require agreement from the wider fisheries and marine community on overarching goals and objectives for the sustainable management of the marine environment.

Labour will:

define the baseline sustainability standards producers must meet, including the use of appropriate fishing methods, and drive fisheries to this level.

Environmental Certification Environmental certification is of increasing importance in the global food trade. Retailers are increasingly demanding information on product origin and food production standards before selling to their customers.

Creating value can often be creating that point of difference between you and a competitor. In a world that is increasingly aware of the need to use sustainable methods to produce quality produce, credible and recognised environmental certification is critical.

New Zealand’s hoki fishery was one of the first to be certified as a sustainable wild fishery by a globally recognised standards body. It was first certified in 2001, and has been re-certified ever since. More recently, albacore tuna and southern blue whiting have all been certified as sustainable New Zealand fisheries.

   

                                           

Many sustainability programmes have been created by a processing or marketing company to meet the needs of their customers rather than being applied universally across the industry. We need to investigate the advantages of developing a consistent brand so that all producers are working within the same baseline sustainability standards.

Labour will:

investigate the advantages of a Government-initiated and funded ‘Environmental Choice NZ’ programme, using existing resources, to demonstrate to global consumers New Zealand’s commitment to operate sustainably.

Recreational Fishing To catch a fish from the rocks, the beach, or the boat for the family is an iconic Kiwi tradition. While we need to maximise the value of our fisheries industry and protect the sustainability of our fishing stocks we must ensure the Kiwi tradition of recreational fishing is preserved.

The Government’s changes to allocations for the snapper fisheries saw everyday recreational fishers lose out for major commercial fishing companies. We should all take part in preserving our fishing stocks. It is unfair for recreational fishers to bear the brunt of changes to protect the stock. Labour wants to preserve our snapper fishery for future generations but in doing so we will put the interests of recreational fishers first.

Labour will:

improve non-commercial access to coastal fisheries by working with the recreational fishing sector to protect their rights and the expectations of all New Zealanders to access public fisheries resources

commit to a forum for the recreational sector to establish the rights, obligations and objectives for the long term confidence of recreational fishers

initiate research and consultation on rebuilding snapper 1 stocks including measures to reduce waste in order to accelerate the rebuild.

Aquaculture Aquaculture is the world’s fastest growing primary industry. International research indicates aquaculture produces about 47% of seafood consumed globally with production levels growing at a rate of approximately 6.3% annually in the past decade. It is one of the world’s most efficient forms of food production and is considered a sustainable solution to feeding the world.

Aquaculture is one of a handful of natural resource industries that can offer genuine environmentally sustainable economic growth. It is based on renewable resources and depends on the quality of its natural environment. Those involved in this sector have a vested interest in ensuring good stewardship of the aquatic environment.

We have positioned our aquaculture industry at the high end of the market. Our pristine coastal waters and reputation for quality, food safety and sound management practices mean we are well-placed to capitalise on growing demand for aquaculture products.

Yet regulatory uncertainty is limiting the growth of this sector. Marine farming is currently managed under three different statutes and these complications, along with councils’

   

                                           

implementation have constrained the sector’s efforts to develop to the extent many see as its potential.

We need to assess the adequacy of the current legislation and policies to identify conflicting objectives in the various pieces of legislation, streamline the regulatory processes and develop a more integrated approach. Our aim should be a policy that integrates aquaculture use with our network of marine reserves and other environmental criteria to allow aquaculture to develop further and consolidate its market position.

This means we need to invest more in research and development to create new species and products. We need to continue to innovate through a combination of practical ‘on-the-water’ innovations such as production and processing techniques along with ‘blue skies’ research and investment in workforce training and education.

Labour will:

encourage the further development of aquaculture through consistent regulations and a strategy to create further niche, value-added markets.