Fishermen demand answers
Southern fishermen want Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy to front up over concerns regarding new commercial fishing regulations.
More than 100 Southland fishermen met in Invercargill yesterday to discuss the implications of the Ministry for Primary Industries’ new integrated electronic monitoring and reporting system.
Initially intended for just the rock lobster industry, the meeting was expanded after interest from across the commercial fishing sector.
CRA8 Lobster Industry Association chief executive Malcolm Lawson, who organised the meeting, said there was ‘‘a huge amount of frustration’’ in the way the regulation process had run.
Hailed by Guy as a ‘‘revolution’’ within the industry, the new regulations – set be be introduced from October 1 – will result in the compulsory introduction of e-logbooks, geospatial position reporting, and monitoring cameras to all commercial fishing vessels.
‘‘This is the biggest change to the commercial fishing industry since the introduction of the Quota Management System’’, Guy said at the announcement of the new regulations earlier in July.
However, Lawson said the new rules had been decided on without proper consultation.
‘‘Nathan Guy as the minister has said that this is the biggest thing since the introduction of the quota system.
‘‘Well if that’s the case, why haven’t they scheduled to have a series of meetings with the industry round the country discussing the changes? It seems ridiculous they haven’t.
‘‘My challenge to the minister is why doesn’t he front up, as the champion of this system, and hold a meeting with the people who are going to be a part of it?’’
Lawson said yesterday’s meeting was the first time the southern industry had the chance to get together since the ministry released details about the new regulations.
‘‘It’s a meeting that MPI, who as instigators of the programme, really should be holding. but have clearly decided they’re not going to engage with the wider industry.’’
Lawson said while there were some positive aspects to the new regulation, the issues were around how they were to be implemented.
‘‘There was a realisation [at the meeting] that some parts of the regulations can be advantageous, if they’re implemented properly.
‘‘Going from paper to e-reporting is a positive move ... depending on the level of detail and frequency of reporting.’’
Concerns raised included privacy issues involving data transmitted from cameras, e-reporting and position reporting.
‘‘At the moment MPI doesn’t seem to have any policy regarding privacy, intellectual property or confidentiality.
‘‘[They seem] to be more interested in the technical aspects of the IEMRS system, rather than the impact on people in the real world.’’
Some of the concerns, particularly relating to privacy, were driven by the unique nature of Southland’s fisheries.
‘‘The southern industry is different because you have boats away for longer periods and you have rougher weather.
‘‘Down here boats are people’s second homes, they’re living them 24 hours a day, and [introducing cameras] would be a huge intrusion.
‘‘The whole thing is being done in a rush, and the industry is paying the price,’’ he said.
After the meeting, a spokesman for the minister said he would respond to questions today.