Haratua 2007
Issue 12

  1. New Shared Fisheries Proposal Put to Minister
  2. Scientists survey Taharoa eel populations
  3. Busy year begins with mandating iwi and protecting the settlement
  4. Ngai Tamanuhiri achieves inshore fisheries agreement
  5. Rob McLeod stands down from board
  6. Kiwis well-informed on sustainability and the health benefits of fish
  7. AFL buys Kia Ora Seafoods
  8. Maori shared fisheries submissions
  9. Maori MPs intervention delays introduction of Fisheries Amendment Bill
  10. Sealord CEO moves to new role
  11. Napier Fisheries Conference
  12. Panel airs shared fisheries views
  13. Glaister resigns as head of MFish
  14. Commercial fisheries valued at $3.8 billion
  15. Staying Maori while going global
  16. Court delivers judgement on Kahawai allowable catch
  17. Government approves industry-led proposal to protect seabed
  18. Ngai Tahu says eel size limits ineffectual
  19. More assets in iwi hands first half of financial year
  20. High seas limit on bottom trawl fishing
  21. Kirsty Woods takes leave of absence
  22. Changes to Charitable Trust laws
  23. Staff and Directors
  24. New Executive Assistant

Other Issues >>

New Shared Fisheries Proposal Put to Minister

Maori help draft plan to resolve sector issues

Te Ohu Kaimoana has spearheaded a joint proposal with the seafood industry and recreational fishers to resolve shared fisheries and help protect the value of the Maori commercial fisheries settlement.

The multi-sector approach comes after a number of meetings between Te Ohu Kaimoana, the Seafood Industry Council, the Recreational Fishing Council (RFC) and option4, also representing recreational fishers.

The joint proposal asks the Minister of Fisheries, Jim Anderton, to lead a process where all sectors – customary, commercial and recreational fishers – participate in developing a policy framework for managing New Zealand's shared fisheries.

Strong iwi concerns that the shared fisheries proposals put forward by the Ministry of Fisheries in October last year would erode the value of the Maori fisheries settlement prompted many to call for a more integrated approach to resolving sector allocations.

As well as developing policy for improved management of shared fisheries, the proposal asks the Minister to defer Cabinet decisions and the legislative phase of the shared fisheries project until the sectors have provided a new joint proposal to him.

“We are not suggesting that the shared fisheries process be significantly delayed – we are all committed to making progress,” the authors say in the proposal. “We are in agreement that there are no pressing fisheries management issues that require introduction of legislation in the very short term to enable solutions to be developed and implemented.”

They note, however, that legislative changes may be required following the recommendations that come from the multiparty process.

This proposal arose out of strong opposition from iwi around the country to the discussion document released by the Ministry of Fisheries in October last year. The Ministry proposed that the amount of quota available to the commercial sector may be reduced to make more available for the recreational sector. There were concerns that a cut in the commercial quota would mean a reduction in the value of an iwi's settlement quota.

Te Ohu Kaimoana has been meeting with the Seafood Industry Council and recreational fishing interests over the last four months to work through the Ministry's proposals and develop an improved method by which shared fisheries are managed. Option4, however, has chosen at this stage not to put their name to the proposal, although Te Ohu Kaimoana chief executive Peter Douglas stresses that dialogue is continuing with them and other organisations.

“Te Ohu Kaimoana is committed to working with everyone involved in the fisheries sector to ensure that the Maori Fisheries Settlement is not eroded over time,” Peter said. “There have been strong concerns expressed by many iwi around the country over the de-valuing of their fisheries settlement assets because of the shared fisheries proposals. I hope that this new process provides some confidence to iwi that solutions will be found.”

The Minister of Fisheries has yet to respond to the proposals.

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Tiakina ngā rawa hi ika, a tātou kaimoana mo ngā uri whakaheke
Protecting Māori fisheries assets for future generations