- deliberately shrinking the scope 
of environmental consideration 
so commercial catch limits could 
increase while environmental 
damage continues. There will be no 
requirement to consider localised 
depletion and the impacts of fishing 
on the wider marine environment.
Undermining environmental 
safeguards undermines the 
future of the fishery itself. That’s 
because if we want healthy and 
abundant fish populations, we 
must have healthy habitats.
Many of our fish stocks have little 
to no information on the status of 
their population or whether they 
are overfished. Under the current 
Fisheries Act, the Minister is obliged 
to take a precautionary approach 
when making decisions for such 
fish stocks with limited data.
The Bill will instead encourage 
the exploitation of vulnerable, 
data-poor fish stocks. A reform is 
a change for the better. A reform 
that increases risks to ecosystem 
function and productivity for no 
tangible benefit is not a reform at all.
CURRENT LEGISLATION 
IS FIT FOR PURPOSE
Born in 1996, the current Fisheries 
Act is modern, deliberate legislation. 
It holds decision-makers accountable 
for considering the interconnected 
nature of our marine ecosystem and 
acknowledges that sustainability 
must come first and foremost.
The current Act is fit for purpose. 
Recent court rulings on Ministerial 
fisheries decisions for crayfish, 
tarakihi, and kahawai show that 
the law is consistent and clear.  
Yet the Minister has convinced 
the coalition government that 
the current Act is outdated, and 
widespread changes are required in 
order to boost the “productivity” of 
the commercial fishing industry.
The real reason behind the 
Amendment Bill is to shift control 
over how many fish remain in the 
water to quota owners, behind 
closed doors. It shifts power 
away from the Minister and strips 
back public accountability.
As recreational fishers, we can 
recognise that a day’s fishing no longer 
guarantees a feed for the whānau. 
 Photo: Stephanie Kirk
Public pressure is helping but 
we need to keep the pressure on 
politicians as they are responsible 
for the outcome of this Bill, to ensure 
our kids inherit better fish stocks.
Photo: Ben Fransham
 /FISHINGINGODZONE  37

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