Conservationist: Commercial fishing mindset needs to change

A conservationist is calling for more research into the effects of commercial fishing on New Zealand’s marine environment.

Environment and Conservation Organisations of New Zealand co-chairperson, Barry Weeber, said there is not enough research into the fish stocks that are being commercially fished.

“There’s a lot of information that we need to collect and we’re spending less today than we spent 25 years ago on fisheries research.”

“That creates problems in terms of getting a database to know what’s actually going on in a marine environment and what’s changing.”

Mr Weeber said there needs to be a change in mindset within the system, and is concerned for fish stocks that have decreased by 20 per cent.

“There’s a whole bunch of species that we’re just not getting on top of and we’re creating a debt for the future. I think that’s the sort of blind spot that we currently have in terms of the management regime.”

However, John Olver, the business applications manager from Fish Serve, which is a subsidiary of Seafood New Zealand, said the management system in place is highly sustainable.

“I think you’ve got to put faith in the system, that’s what it’s there for. The system seems to be working well because it has been in place for over 20 years now and people have been able to take the same amount out each year.

“So if it was being overfished, by now you wouldn’t catch nearly as much fish as back then. I think the sustainability is there and it’s sort of reflected in the ability to keep catching without working much harder at it,” said Mr Olver.

Mr Olver said there are instances where some of the fish stocks have had problems, but have been closed off to fishing to allow them to recuperate.

“There is active management going on all the time assessing stocks and making adjustments to try and improve their health or maintain them at their maximum.”

Auckland fisherman Matt Paterson said he would be disappointed if commercial fishing depleted fish stocks further.

“I love fishing and I would hate if it was ruined for people like me by big fisheries companies.”