Plan to install hundreds more cameras on fishing boats welcomed

WELLINGTON: The Government is poised to spend millions of dollars on hundreds more cameras for the country’s fishing boat fleet.

Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash said the Government was funding a detailed business case and looking at the approval of new regulations.

Public consultation will be sought on the proposal which would result in 345 more cameras.

Cameras would cover all inshore areas where fishing poses significant risks to protected species.

If Cabinet signs off on the proposal, the introduction could begin late next year, costing an estimated $40 million to $60 million over four years.

Last year, the Government paid for cameras on 20 fishing vessels in areas that pose the highest risk to Maui dolphins, off the West Coast of the North Island.

It also required electronic catch and position reporting for about 830 boats in the inshore fleet.

If the wider use of cameras went ahead, it would lead to a more modern fishing industry and a sustainable seafood sector, Mr Nash said.

‘‘The decision also supports the economic recovery for communities who depend on fishing for their livelihoods.

‘‘As we respond to the impact of Covid19 it’s more important than ever to position the country as a worldleading source of sustainable, trusted and highvalue seafood,’’ he said.

The announcement has already been welcomed by New Zealand’s largest seafood company Sanford.

Chief executive Volker Kuntzsch said it was a great step forward and would lead to more transparency on fishing boats.

‘‘We already have cameras on many of our fishing boats, but there has been a piecemeal approach to the technology up till now and this announcement will hopefully change that.

‘‘If having cameras on vessels helps reassure people about what we do, that can only be a good thing.

‘‘We look forward to working with everyone involved to roll out this technology as soon as possible.’’

Greenpeace criticised the announcement as too little, too late.

Greenpeace spokeswoman Jessica Desmond said cameras were urgently needed on the entire commercial fleet of about 1500 vessels.

She said the Government was again pandering to commercial fishing rather than pushing ahead on longoverdue and muchneeded protections.

Forest & Bird has welcomed the announcement but urged the Government to introduce the programme more quickly. Chief executive Kevin Hague said the announcement was a win for conservation his organisation had been demanding for years.

‘‘We're thrilled to see victory finally and to see a government commitment to rolling out cameras on boats, but now the acid has to go on both government and the industry to actually make the implementation happen faster than the minister has indicated today, otherwise we will lose some of these precious species,’’ Mr Hague said.

National leader Judith Collins said it was ‘‘about time’’ the Government announced plans to expand the cameras programme.

She said National had always been supportive of having cameras on fishing boats.

‘‘I think it's very late in the piece for them to do it.

‘‘Certainly, they've had three years to get it in place. They said they were going do things and they didn't.

‘‘It clearly shows, too, that New Zealand First, the Greens and Labour have split in quite an untimely and let's say, messy, manner.’’ — RNZ