The Bill’s proposal for removal of 
commercial minimum size limits for 
snapper was plain wrong. Commercial 
operators could keep and sell baby 
fish before they could reproduce. 
Photo credit: Finn Stevenson
M
ore than 25,000 
New Zealanders 
rejected the 
proposed 
changes to the 
Fisheries Act in 
April last year. 
That’s the largest 
public response ever seen on a 
fisheries issue in recent times. 
It proves that Kiwis care deeply 
about the future of our fisheries.
Yet the Minister Shane Jones has 
pushed ahead regardless, ignoring 
our concerns.  Advancing a Bill that 
is by the Minister’s own admission, 
a quota owners wish list that 
prioritises exploiting and exporting 
our fish for private profits. The 
Select Committee will now consider 
whether the Bill stands, is changed 
or thrown out. We’ll know that 
outcome by by 6th August 2026.
The Minister wants the Bill enacted 
before the election. We don’t.
Subsidising commercial operators 
and fast-tracking commercial fish 
harvest at the expense of the marine 
environment, the fish, and our 
future is not a winning strategy.
Anyone who has spent decades 
out on the water knows there 
aren’t enough fish. The problem 
is, the Amendment Bill will not 
resolve the depletion issue. Instead, 
the Bill attempts to normalise 
depletion. If we care about the 
future of our fisheries we must 
speak up before 29 April
ROTTEN TO THE CORE
What’s wrong with the Fisheries 
Amendment Bill? Plenty.
Right from the outset, the intent 
of the Bill is clear - “...to deliver 
on Government priorities to 
grow the value of seafood sector 
exports while continuing to ensure 
sustainability.” Immediately, the 
public interests and the environment 
are demoted to the second tier.
 /FISHINGINGODZONE  9

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