Quota owners discuss responsibilities
More than 50 Maori quota owners from all over Aotearoa met in Poneke recently to discuss their responsibilities and obligations under the Maori Fisheries Act and the Fisheries Act.
Organised by Te Ohu Kaimoana, the Maori Fisheries Trust, the workshop was aimed at conveying information to iwi fisheries managers regarding general responsibilities associated with owning fisheries quota.
As more iwi receive their quota through the allocation process, there are general things that each iwi should be aware of, says General Manager Policy and Operations Craig (Laws) Lawson. “Prior to allocation, Te Ohu Kaimoana had always paid the Government levies, the Commercial Stakeholder charges and other fisheries charges placed on quota. As iwi take over ownership of their share of quota, those responsibilities, along with others, will fall directly onto them. These costs will be billed monthly and systems need to be in place to ensure they are paid on time or penalties apply.”
The gathering covered other aspects of ownership, including conditions on contracts when selling annual catch entitlements (ACE) and ensuring that fishers comply with the rules, such as reporting catches to the correct regulatory authority, fishing in the correct zones, etc. “It's not just a matter of selling your ACE and leaving it at that. There are requirements to be met as owners. If a fisher using your ACE doesn't follow the rules, ultimately this will rebound on quota owners, through either decreased catch or less flexibility in future years. As owners of the treaty settlement assets, you must make it plain in your ACE sales contract that any fisher must follow the rules,” Mr Lawson said.
Other topics discussed were the October 2006 ACE round, the role of FishServe and issues such as foreign crews on foreign-chartered vessels and the Maori Purposes Bill. “We were fortunate to have an array of experts that were able to share their experience and knowledge of the industry,” says Te Ohu Kaimoana Human Resources Manager Darrin Apanui.
The workshop was the first in a series of programmes available to Mandated Iwi Organisations and Asset Holding Companies, Mr Apanui said. Where possible, it will be taken to regions and Te Ohu Kaimoana is keen to hear thoughts from iwi on what further information they require as they work to grow their fisheries assets.
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Tiakina ngā rawa hi ika, a tātou kaimoana mo ngā uri whakaheke
Protecting Māori fisheries assets for future generations