Auckland (The NZ Today)
National has unveiled a new marine and fishing policy that would create a marine reserve off Waiheke Island, expand the protected area around Goat Island, and tighten rules around commercial fishing in parts of the Hauraki Gulf if the party is returned to government.
The announcement places marine protection alongside fishing access, technology and enforcement, with National arguing both commercial and recreational fishing depend on healthier oceans.
Under the plan, commercial fishing would be banned from the Hauraki Gulf’s High Protection Areas, while existing trawl corridors would also be reviewed.
National also wants recreational fishers to have a greater role in future fisheries reforms and says it would increase the number of honorary fisheries officers to 200, alongside tougher penalties for people who exceed catch limits.
The party is also promising to retain the recently announced restrictions on taking shellfish and other marine life from vulnerable rockpools and intertidal areas around Auckland and the Coromandel.
Beyond the Hauraki Gulf, National says it wants to increase the proportion of New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone under some form of protection from about 32 percent to 50 percent by 2040.
A further $20 million Fish Tech Innovation Fund would be established to support new technology aimed at improving fishing practices, monitoring and sustainability.
Oceans and Fisheries spokesperson Todd McClay said the policy was intended to recognise the economic importance of commercial fishing, recreational fishing and the wider marine industry while ensuring fish stocks and marine environments remained sustainable.
National puts the seafood industry’s economic output at about $6.4 billion, with recreational fishing generating around $1.7 billion in economic activity and the boating and marine sector worth about $3 billion annually.
Conservation spokesperson Tama Potaka said protecting the marine environment was ultimately about long-term stewardship of an area used for food gathering, recreation and community life.
National has previously signalled tougher protection for the Hauraki Gulf, including further restrictions on the limited commercial fishing still permitted there.
Source: National Party marine and fisheries policy announcement and 1News.
