By Tova O’Brien
The Government is cracking down on how foreign chartered fishing vessels operate in New Zealand waters.
They will have to obey our laws and meet our minimum conditions for workers.
It will not affect the price of fish sold here but one industry insider says it will kill the foreign-caught export trade.
There are 12 companies operating foreign-chartered fishing vessels in New Zealand waters, catching and selling New Zealand fish, but not operating within New Zealand law.
Primary Industries minister David Carter says there could be numerous illegal activities.
“With a number of allegations being made of under payment about sexual abuse etc it has been important that the Government acts.”
So within four years all will have to forfeit their foreign ties and fly the New Zealand flag.
It means their crews must have New Zealand employment agreements and they will be accountable to New Zealand health, safety and criminal laws.
Slave Free Seas founder Craig Tuck is pleased with the changes, but they are not coming soon enough.
“Four years too long.”
Within the year every vessel will have a single Government observer on board. Maritime Union spokesman Joe Fleetwood says there should be four.
“We've had inspectors who've been threatened for their safety…That one inspector can't be awake for 24 hours a day for six weeks.”
There are just two other countries in the world – Brazil and Namibia – with laws as unregulated as New Zealand's.
“In other words the rest of the world has moved to change the regime for the use of foreign charter vessels some time ago," Mr Carter says. "New Zealand has been behind in making this move.”
The Government admits the economy will take a knock from these changes, but could not say by how much.
One fishing industry insider who did not want to be named told 3 News these changes will kill the entire deep water fishing industry in New Zealand.
Foreign Charter Vessels contribute $300 million to the economy each year and the insider says most operators will be pushed out.
3 News
source: newshub archive
