Deepwater Group praises industry’s science investment, encourages more government research.
New Zealand’s three largest orange roughy fisheries have again exceeded the very high standards required to achieve Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.
DWG’s CEO George Clement says the industry has always supported a balanced approach to both marine conservation and sustainable seafood production.
Clement’s comments are in response to Sealord’s proposal to set aside 89% of the seamounts in the EEZ for conservation.
Government research continues to show that New Zealand’s fisheries are highly sustainable and fish stocks are healthy, with 94% of the catch coming from stocks with no sustainability risks.
New Zealand fishers call for fact-based decisions on trawling
New Zealand deepwater fishing representatives say a petition by eNGOs delivered to Parliament’s environment select committee today calling for a ban on trawling seamounts is misinformed.
Deepwater Group CEO George Clement says: “It’s frustrating hearing certain groups espousing mis-truths about bottom...
more...
The article below is republished with permission from the Sustainable Fisheries website from the University of Washington in Seattle, USA. Author, Max Mossler, is an important voice in addressing the reportage of fisheries globally and follows in the footsteps of his pioneering colleague, Ray Hilborn.
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is launching New Zealand’s first-ever Sustainable Seafood Week to celebrate the leadership of MSC certified fisheries in Aotearoa while empowering Kiwis to choose sustainable seafood to ensure we have seafood for generations to come.
Catch limits will be increased for 26 fisheries and reduced for three fisheries as part of a regular round of reviews designed to ensure ongoing sustainability of fisheries resources.
The big winner at the Seafood Sustainability Awards was a man who has spent almost 20 years working to protect seabirds and marine mammals in the commercial fishing industry.
Top-quality seafood has been slashed in price in an effort to support iwi during COVID-19. Sealord and Moana New Zealand have been providing their products at discounted prices – up to 70 percent off their retail value – with iwi purchasing the product in large quantities to distribute them to whanau for free.
This week’s release of the National Plan of Action on seabirds was the result of three years of discussions between industry, eNGOs, Fisheries New Zealand, and the Department of Conservation (DOC).
Nearly half of the fish caught worldwide are from stocks that are scientifically monitored and, on average, are increasing in abundance. Effective management appears to be the main reason these stocks are at sustainable levels or successfully rebuilding.
New Zealand sea lions are a national taonga. They were hunted to near extinction in the 1800s, but have been recovering since hunting was prohibited. Their threat classification has recently been upgraded from Nationally Critical to Nationally Vulnerable to reflect signs of population recovery, says Fisheries New Zealand Director of Fisheries Management, Stuart Anderson.
Trade Minister David Parker’s announcement of a successful upgrade of the NZ-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has been welcomed by the seafood industry.
“New Zealand is known as the seabird capital of the world. As the breeding grounds for a third of the world’s seabird species, we have an international responsibility to ensure their long-term survival”
Two orange roughy fisheries – one in the Tasman, the other centred in the Pacific and the sub-Antarctic – received substantial quota increases in the sustainability round that came into effect on 1 October 2019, the start of the new fishing year.
Press release from New Zealand Government Hon Stuart Nash, Minister of Fisheries. Friday 27 September 2019
Commercial catch limits for tarakihi will be reduced by a further 10 per cent as part of a package of measures to ensure sustainability of a number of fish stocks around the country.
The Environment Aotearoa Report 2019, released today by the Ministry for the Environment and StatsNZ, shows the environmental performance of New Zealand’s seafood industry has improved markedly.
Recognition of this is welcomed by the Deepwater Group, representing the deepwater seafood sector including quota owners harvesting hoki, hake, ling, southern blue whiting, squid, jack mackerel, orange roughy...
New Zealand’s Benthic Protection Areas (BPAs) are internationally-recognised as a type of Marine Protected Area (MPA). The IUCN recognises seven categories of MPAs and BPAs meet Category VI.
With seventeen New Zealand fisheries recertified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) in September, some 50 percent of New Zealand’s wild marine catch now holds this gold standard of sustainability...
New Zealand hoki quota owners proactively choosing to reduce catch
Published: 26 September 2018
Quota owners in the New Zealand hoki fishing industry have announced today they have proactively chosen to reduce the amount of hoki they will catch next year, in response to changing patterns they are observing in one of the...
Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash today (19/9/2018) announced his decisions on changes to fisheries catch limits from 1 October 2018.
Thirty-two catch limits were reviewed in this sustainability round.
Four deepwater fisheries were reviewed and each had their Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) limits increased, decisions supported by the best available science.
Seventeen New Zealand fisheries harvesting hoki, hake, ling and southern blue whiting have been re-certified against the gold standard for sustainable seafood, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.
Report on sea-trials of Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRAD) to deter seabirds from risk of trawl net capture
Published: J Cleal and R Wells - 22 August 2018
Background
Between 2000 and 2005 there was growing awareness and understanding of interactions between seabirds and deepwater trawlers (e.g. greater than 28m in length) and, in...
Leaked Risk Profile Reports Show MPI is Effectively Monitoring Fisheries Compliance
Published: 8 June 2018
Summary
Two confidential internal Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) reports that profiled compliance risks in the hoki and southern blue whiting fisheries during 2011 and 2012 were leaked to the media.
Media reports claim that these reports reveal wholesale misreporting in these...
The definitive word on the leaked fisheries reports from MPI
Published: 1 June 2018
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has announced that it is releasing historical reports dealing with compliance risk profiling of the southern blue whiting fishery.
In this video, MPI's manager of compliance investigations, Gary...
Majority of New Zealand’s wild-caught seafood MSC certified as sustainable
Published: 14 May 2018
With half of New Zealand’s total seafood production certified to the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) sustainability standard and 70 percent of the deep water catch certified, New Zealand’s Deepwater Group (DWG) welcomes yesterday’s inaugural...
OpenSeas has released a playbook on the programme.
The comprehensive guide aims to help New Zealand seafood companies understand the range of tools available and find ways to best utilise the programme within their businesses.
Scientists are using GPS technology and remote cameras to help them to better understand how to prevent New Zealand sea lion pups dying on Campbell Island.
They also tested the use of a drone to count sea...
New technology deployed to prevent sea lion pup deaths
Published: 23 February 2018
Scientists from the Department of Conservation (DOC) and Deepwater Group (DWG) say GPS technology and remote cameras are helping them better understand how to prevent sea lion pups from dying on the subantarctic...
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is constantly reviewing and refining its standards and certification requirements. Deepwater Group is an active participant in these reviews and, alongside others from MSC-certified fisheries, is focussed on ensuring any changes are backed by science and...
Environmental organisations unsure how science works
Published: 21 February 2018
Recent attacks from environmental organisations on the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and New Zealand’s seafood industry have reached a new level of banality and predictability.
As MSC continues to succeed and to certify more and more of the well...
Seafood industry welcomes considered approach to cameras on vessels
Published: 14 February 2018
The New Zealand seafood industry has welcomed confirmation by Stuart Nash, the Fisheries Minister, that the Government is reconsidering a proposal to install cameras on all commercial fishing vessels.
Fishing industry dismisses claim fishery should not be certified sustainable
Published: 26 January 2018
Accusations that the fishing industry is responsible for any population decrease of Salvin’s albatross are untrue and has been dismissed by Deepwater Group chief executive, George Clement.
A new fisheries-dedicated unit has been announced by the Government.
The Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) functions are being reset, with four new portfolio-based entities announced, including Fisheries New Zealand, Forestry New Zealand, Biosecurity New Zealand and New Zealand Food...
Deepwater Group (DWG) celebrated more than ten years delivering healthy fisheries at their recent annual general meeting.
Established in 2005, DWG was a merger of the hoki, squid and orange roughy management companies, with a mandate for delivering the best-managed deepwater...
Commercial fishers are welcoming the announcement that the implementation of the Integrated Electronic Monitoring and Reporting System (IEMRS) will be slowed down.
Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash said he has instructed Ministry for Primary Industries...
Commercial fishermen support getting digital monitoring right
Published: 14 November 2017
Deepwater Group, which represent commercial fishermen in New Zealand’s deep-water fisheries, support the Labour Government’s decision to slow down the implementation of IEMRS (Integrated Electronic Monitoring and Reporting System) to ensure...
more...
Large-scale changes bring opportunity for further collaboration
Published: 17 October 2017
[caption id="attachment_5976" align="alignnone" width="604"] Photograph by Peter Marriott/NIWA[/caption]
The seafood industry and the Ministry for Primary Industries continue to collaborate during the rollout of the Integrated Electronic Monitoring and Reporting System (IEMRS).
Progress is being made with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) towards the considered and staged implementation of Integrated Electronic Monitoring and Reporting System (IEMRS).
MPI’s high level objectives - to verify self-reporting of catches, to collect more information on catches, and...
Squid fishermen support management to minimise Sea Lion interactions
Published: 14 September 2017
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has proposed changes to the management of the southern squid trawl (SQU6T) fishery to ensure any interactions with New Zealand...
The New Zealand seafood industry now has a one-stop source for information.
OpenSeas is a third-party verified, broad-based transparency initiative designed to enable customers of New Zealand seafood, primarily international customers, a single, comprehensive source of information about the environmental, social...
After nearly 20 years of closure by industry, another orange roughy stock, this time off the bottom of the South Island, is about to be re-opened to fishing.
Deepwater Group welcomes New Zealand Sea Lion Threat Management Plan
Published: 3 July 2017
The Deepwater Group, which represents New Zealand’s deepwater fishing sector, welcomes the New Zealand Sea Lion Threat Management Plan released today by the Department of Conservation (DOC) and...
more...
An annual southern Buller's albatross census on the Snares Islands has been successful with more breeding pairs counted and banded.
These remote islands, 120 km south of Stewart Island, are home to the main breeding grounds for this endemic albatross.
The survey was undertaken by scientist Paul Sagar, who like many...
The announcement today that the Government will contribute $2.8 million over four years to fund further research into the mortality of sea lions has been welcomed by the seafood industry.
Minister for Primary Industries, Nathan Guy and Conservation Minister, Maggie Barry made the announcement a short time ago, and acknowledged the fishing...
International fisheries scientists meet in Nelson to share world-leading ideas
Press release: Deepwater Group Ltd, 3 April 2017
Scientists from more than 20 countries are meeting in Nelson this week for an international conference to discuss the latest advances in fisheries technology.
This is the first time the global organisation ICES (International Council...
Seafood industry funds conservation expedition to Snares Islands
Press release: Deepwater Group Ltd, 31 March 2017
A science expedition led by Paul Sagar is setting off to the Snares Islands for an annual survey of Southern Buller’s albatross, and while there also collecting Skua seabird poo for the Department of Conservation (DOC).
Australians are being told to choose New Zealand seafood on Sustainable Seafood Day, which will be celebrated on 31 March throughout Australia. This is because over 50% of New Zealand’s wild catch is now certified as sustainable by the...
Press release: Deepwater Group Ltd, 16 February 2017
The discoveries of new species made by NIWA on a 20-day scientific voyage to the remote Kermadec region have been welcomed by deep sea fishers, who encourage further scientific exploration of this vast untouched ocean northeast of New...
A group of NGOs is coming out against the new Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification of the New Zealand orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) fishery.
New Zealand Orange Roughy Gets Top International Sustainability Tick
Press Release: Seafood New Zealand and Deepwater Group, December 9, 2016
New Zealand’s three largest orange roughy fisheries have been certified as meeting the international gold standard for sustainable fishing by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) (MSC release).
Attacks on the seafood industry lack scientific credibility
Published: 1 June 2016
It is not possible to have a sensible science-based discussion around the Simmons report (Simmons et al 2016) because the data and methods used remain unclear.
For science to be of value to society it must be...
Revolutionary new trawling method improves quality of catch
Published: 19 August 2015
A revolutionary new sustainable trawling method is showing great potential for increasing the value of New Zealand’s fisheries by more than $43 million per year by 2025, industry leaders heard in Wellington today.
Seizing the global opportunities for New Zealand seafood
Published: 19 August 2015
The growing global demand for environmentally sustainable, natural, healthy food offers great opportunities for the New Zealand seafood industry, Seafood New Zealand Chairman George Clement says.
Speaking at the New Zealand Seafood Industry Conference in Wellington today,...
New Zealand’s fisheries are performing well overall, Dr Pamela Mace, the Principal Advisor Fisheries Science, with the Ministry for Primary Industries said today.
She was providing an update on the status of New Zealand’s marine fisheries at the New...
New Zealand has boosted the protection of sharks by signing the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks.
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry have signed the agreement today which aims to improve the conservation of seven migratory shark species vulnerable to over-exploitation.
“This international memorandum is the first global...
A tiny community of New Zealand sea lions on the Otago Peninsula is helping scientists solve the mystery of why some populations are doing better than others.
There are thought to be only 10,000 New Zealand sea lions left, and pup production at the main breeding population in the Auckland Islands has declined by half since...
Talley’s Amaltal Explorer embarks from Nelson tomorrow with leading edge technology on board to assess orange roughy stocks off the West Coast and bottom of the South Island.
The two areas to be surveyed have been closed to orange roughy fishing since 1998 to encourage numbers to rebuild to a healthy and optimum level.
These surveys will...
The seafood industry actively supports measures to conserve the Auckland Islands sea lion, Seafood New Zealand Chairman George Clement says.
His comments follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) upgrading the sea lions’ status from vulnerable to endangered.
“The decline in the sea lion population at the Auckland Islands has been a cause of concern...
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) today celebrated 15 years of MSC certified seafood and recognised the ‘leaders for living oceans’ that are driving growth and success in the sustainable seafood market.
MSC certified fisheries now catch 8.8 million tonnes of MSC certified seafood per year, accounting for close to 10% of the total global wild-capture. With...
The New Zealand seafood industry has lost a titan with the death of Philip Vela.
“Philip Vela was an early pioneer in the development of the hoki, orange roughy, tuna and squid fisheries. He continued to be a major player and innovator in New Zealand fisheries – a business where only the strongest of the strong...
Fifteen years ago, when the world’s first fishery earned Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, sustainability in seafood was a relatively new concept. Then it became a buzzword. Today, “guaranteed sustainability is a requirement,” said Nicolas Guichoux, MSC global commercial director.
“All of that happened because some companies decided that sustainability, like price and quality, was a...
New Zealand orange roughy exports are accelerating as catch limits of the deepwater fish, once a poster child for bad fisheries management, increase amid confidence about improving stocks.
Exports of the slow-growing fish, which can live for up to 130 years, rose 6.9 percent to a three-year high of $36.5 million last year, according to Statistics...
The seafood industry applauded the Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA) decision to turn down Chatham Rock Phosphate’s (CRP) application to mine the Chatham Rise area, a key fishing ground for New Zealand.
“The EPA’s decision recognises that seabed mining is a relatively new industry which has many uncertainties, and that this was a risk not worth taking...
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has refused an application by Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited (CRP) for a marine consent to mine phosphorite nodules on the Chatham Rise.
The decision, which was made by a Decision-making Committee (DMC) appointed by the EPA Board, was released this morning.
EPA General Manager Applications & Assessment Sarah Gardner...
Three of New Zealand's orange roughy fisheries have entered the lengthy and rigorous Marine Stewardship Council sustainability assessment process.
New Zealand's Ministry of Primary Industry and the industry association the Deepwater Group have been working together for the past ten years to better manage and rebuild the orange roughy stocks, and are now looking to measure...
Consumers can look forward to plenty of tasty and nutritious seafood this year with New Zealand fish stocks in good shape.
“The status of our stocks over the 2014 year showed some marked improvements according to the Ministry for Primary Industries figures and point to the conclusion that ‘by far the majority of New Zealand’s fisheries...
Seafood New Zealand is encouraging New Zealanders to put our sustainable seafood on their tables this Christmas.
Kaimoana is a massive part of New Zealand tradition, and our seafood comes from one of the best fisheries management systems in the world.
“Families looking to fill their plates with fresh and healthy local produce this Christmas cannot go...
The hearing on the marine consent application by Chatham Rock Phosphate Ltd (CRP) has been closed by the Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA) Decision-making Committee.
The Committee now has 20 working days to make its decision. Due to the Christmas period, a decision is expected to be made early next year.
The hearing was adjourned by the Committee...
Dairy export revenue will be down this year, but the drop will be partly offset by better-than-expected growth in other primary sectors, according to revised forecasts from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
MPI released today a mid-year update on forecasts from its Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries 2014 (SOPI 2014), which was released in...
The so-called free trade deal with Korea excludes frozen squid, which will continue to suffer a 22 percent tariff.
The FTA announced by Prime Minister John Key at the weekend is overall disappointing for seafood, according to Seafood New Zealand chief executive Tim Pankhurst.
“While there are some improved trading conditions for some seafood in the first...
A global commitment to manage the ocean more effectively has the full support of the New Zealand seafood industry. One of the world’s most influential forums, the 2014 IUCN World Parks Congress is currently underway in Sydney, with members sharing the latest scientific knowledge and management of protected areas, as well as considering...
It pays not to shy away from seafood when pregnant, with some seafood providing health benefits to both expectant mums and their babies.
Prioritising higher fish consumption in pregnant women and young children is among the key dietary recommendations of the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) Committee on World Food Security. (The FAO Committee on World...
The seafood industry is backing seabird protection.
Seafood New Zealand today welcomed the collaborative efforts of the Black Petrel Working Group to develop means of reducing the risk to this threatened seabird from fishing.
“Our industry sees real value in collaborating with organisations to find long-term and effective solutions in how we protect marine wildlife, including seabirds,”...
Precision Seafood Harvesting (PSH), a revolutionary fishing method, was presented with the Supreme New Zealand Innovator award, chosen from all categories and given to the best overall entry. PSH also won the Innovation in Sustainability and Clean Tech award.
Idealog People’s Choice was awarded to Snap Information Technologies, who have developed an integrated video observation unit...
Seafood New Zealand welcomes the return of Hon Nathan Guy as Minister for Primary Industries.
Seafood chief executive, Tim Pankhurst, congratulated Minister Guy on his appointment which was announced by the Prime Minister this morning.
“We have developed a very good working relationship with Mr Guy and look forward to meeting him soon to update him on...
Global sustainable seafood certifier, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has officially certified New Zealand hake and ling as sustainable seafood.
The two species now join New Zealand hoki, albacore and southern blue whiting as sustainable varieties under the MSC’s strict criteria.
As only nine percent of the world’s fish harvest is certified as sustainable, MSC manger Australia...
Hoki is one of the cheapest seafood options available at the counter, and with about 150,000 tonnes earmarked to be caught this year, it is also one of the most readily available.
But Kiwi palates have grown up on inshore fish like snapper and tarakihi, which is much easier to access than the deep-sea hoki, lurking...
The Environmental Protection Authority's initial view on Chatham Rock Phosphate's application for a marine consent to mine is decidedly negative.
The company's shares plummeted as much as 60 percent to just 8 cents yesterday before recovering to close at 15 cents, down 5 cents.
The EPA says its staff can't recommend the company application to mine phosphate...
Chatham Rock Phosphate has applied for marine consent to mine phosphate 450 kilometres east of Christchurch.
Iwi in the rohe - Ngai Tahu, Ngati Mutunga O Wharekauri and the Hokotehi Moriori Trust - have said if the mining is approved, it would have a destructive effect on an important breeding ground and on commercial fish species.
Ngati...
A ban on the finning of all shark species within New Zealand waters will take effect from 1 October this year, Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy announced today.
“Implementing this ban has happened much faster than originally proposed. It reinforces New Zealand’s strong international reputation for sustainability and protecting our...
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has announced increases to catch limits for a range of New Zealand fisheries today, thanks to healthy stock levels.
“This shows the success of our world-leading Quota Management System (QMS). It is flexible and driven by science, which means that we can increase take as stock levels improve,” Mr Guy...
Sealord has welcomed the Minister of Primary Industries announcement about increased hoki and orange roughy quota a vote of confidence for the sustainability of these fisheries and work to ensure world class science and research is available.Quota increases recognise sustainable species
Sealord has welcomed the Minister of Primary Industries’ announcement about increased hoki and orange roughy...
The Deepwater Group says the increase in the Total Allowable Commercial Catch for hoki shows the benefits of a long term commitment to build biomass in this major New Zealand fishery.
An increase in the hoki catch, from 150,000 tonnes to 160,000 tonnes, was announced at the Seafood Industry Conference in Wellington today by the Minister...
The Prime Minister John Key called New Zealand’s seafood ‘the best in the world’ in opening the Seafood Industry Conference in Wellington today.
John Key said he’s travelled all over the world and eaten seafood in all sorts of places, but ‘without doubt New Zealand produces the best and I’ll challenge anyone to show...
Facts on the toothfish ordered by Trade Minister Tim Groser in Singapore are now clear. This fish was not ‘protected’, nor was it sourced from Antarctica as previous media stories have incorrectly asserted. This toothfish was sourced from the Heard Island and McDonald Islands fishery, which is certified as ecologically sustainable by the Marine Stewardship...
Richard Wells, a highly regarded NZ seabird and fisheries specialist, recently spent time on The Snares islands undertaking bird counts for the 2014 Southern Buller’s Albatross census.
“My recent experience being a part of a field team making a full census count of Southen Buller’s albatross (aka mollymawk) on the Snares as left an indelible mark...
The seafood industry today welcomed new developments with Chatham Rock Phosphate’s (CRP) application to mine the Chatham Rise area, a key fishing ground for New Zealand.
“We’re very pleased that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has asked CRP for a lot more information on the adverse environmental effects of their proposal to mine large areas on...
A Crown report says there could be a long-term build up of uranium in farmlands from using phosphate mined from the Chatham Rise.
But the company proposing the sea-bed mining, Chatham Rock Phosphate, says the uranium content is not a health hazard and is little different from that in Moroccan products already used here.
The Crown has...
The Government’s concerned a huge phosphate mining project proposed for the Chatham Rise, off the country’s east coast, could contaminate our food.
Chatham Rock Phosphate’s applying for consent to mine the mineral for fertiliser.
In its submission to the Environmental Protection Authority, the Crown says there are high levels of uranium in the phosphate the company wants...
Uranium in phosphate nodules that Chatham Rock Phosphate intends to mine could threaten New Zealand's nuclear-free reputation, the seafood industry has told the Government.
But the Golden Bay-based miner says the uranium is "incidental" and Conservation Minister Nick Smith agrees, saying it is a side issue.
Deepwater Group chairman Chris Horton wrote to Smith and the ministers...
Uranium in phosphate nodules that Chatham Rock Phosphate intends to mine could threaten New Zealand's nuclear-free reputation, the seafood industry has told the Government.
But the Golden Bay-based miner says the uranium is "incidental" and Conservation Minister Nick Smith agrees, saying it is a side issue.
Deepwater Group chairman Chris Horton wrote to Smith and the ministers...
The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) list of imported fish that it’s telling consumers to stay away from, sounds like an ‘underarm delivery’ to the New Zealand industry.
Seafood New Zealand’s Chairman George Clement says it seems that the AMCS is has just gone through a list of imported seafood to arbitrarily warn people against most...
The main New Zealand ling fisheries have been assessed as meeting the high sustainability standards set by the international Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
Ten ling fisheries have been assessed and these are part of the 29 New Zealand fisheries that are either already certified as meeting the MSC standards or are in the processes of becoming...
Practical moves by fishermen will make more of a difference to protecting New Zealand's sea birds than any answers scientists or conservationists may come up with, Conservation Minister Nick Smith says.
Dr Smith made the comments at the launch of Sharing Worlds - Seabirds and Fishing DVD by the Southern Seabird Solutions Trust at the Taiaroa...
The New Zealand seafood industry congratulated Southern Seabird Solution Trust’s on its short film “Sharing Worlds, Seabirds and Fishing” which was launched today by the Hon Nick Smith, the Minister of Conservation at the Royal Albatross Centre on the Otago Peninsula.
The film highlights Otago fishing and conservation working together for the benefit of seabirds like...
The seafood industry has weighed in with a strong submission against Golden Bay-based Chatham Rock Phosphate's application to suction-mine the Chatham Rise.
Submissions to the Environmental Protection Authority closed yesterday, with the Deepwater Group, representing 95 per cent of fish quota beyond coastal waters, saying the mining would have "significant and irreversible adverse effects on the...
Seafood Industry Strongly Opposed to CRP Mining Application for Chatham Rise
The seafood industry strongly opposes Chatham Rock Phosphate’s application to mine the Chatham Rise, saying it will have “significant and irreversible adverse effects on the marine environment.”
In its submission to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) the Deepwater Group says the environmental impacts of mining will...
Deepwater Group Ltd have opposed the application by Chatham Rock Phosphate for a marine consent to mine phosphate on the Chatham Rise in their submission to the Environmental Protection Authority.
You can read the full submission here (DWG CRP Submission)...
A Nelson-based Sealord trawler was setting off today on a trip to test technology that will show skippers what's happening on the ocean floor as it unfolds beneath them.
The company, which has invested $400,000 in this part of the project, says the result will be "smart trawling" with a reduction in impacts on the seabed...
The New Zealand seafood industry welcomes the Environmental Protection Authority’s decision to decline Trans-Tasman Resources’ (TTR) application to mine the South Taranaki Bight.
Seafood New Zealand chairman, George Clement says the decision was the right one given concerns about the impact of mining activity on New Zealand’s fisheries.
“Our fisheries are an important and valuable resource, and...
John Kerry's Ocean summit opened in Washington yesterday with leaders from about 80 countries in attendence. The conference is designed to elevate the issue of marine protection in three areas: sustainable fishing, action on marine pollution, and action on ocean acidification.
Coinciding with the conference President Obama expanded the central pacific marine sanctuary by excutive order;...
A Nelson fisheries specialist who has worked with the commercial industry to reduce the risk of seabirds getting caught wants recreational fishers to follow suit.
Richard Wells, a specialist with non-profit fisheries management organisation the DeepWater Group, said there were ways of reducing the risk of snaring a seabird, and methods for safely releasing birds that...
New Zealand’s fisheries management has been cited overnight (3am 17th June NZT) at the international Our Ocean Summit in Washington DC as an example of how best to fish sustainably.
Professor Ray Hilborn, Professor in the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences at the University of Washington, has specifically identified “Alaska and New Zealand [who] have...
The country's $1.6 billion-a-year seafood industry is a really well-painted house, the new chair of Seafood New Zealand says.
But the missed corners now need filling-in, with scientific improvements, public perceptions and creating a vibrant industry on top of the agenda.
George Clement was elected as the industry body's executive chairman last month, and was formally welcomed...
The Maori economy will grow if deepsea fish hake gains a sustainable species standard, 50 percent iwi-owned fishing company Sealord says.
The New Zealand hake has received a glowing report from the Marine Stewardship Council, saying the fish is well managed, with healthy fish stocks, which are harvested with minimal environmental impact.
The council's report has to...
New Zealand hake, a small but growing white fish export to Spain, China and Japan, has received a glowing report in an independent assessment, taking it one step closer to achieving certification from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
The MSC holds the world’s best standards for sustainably managed fisheries. Its assessment process, which is transparent and...
Three of New Zealand’s orange roughy fisheries have entered the lengthy and rigorous assessment process to be measured against the world’s most credible standard for sustainable fishing.
“A Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) assessment is a highly transparent and meticulous process and I applaud any fishery that puts themselves under the microscope and scrutiny of the full...
The seafood industry wants the Environmental Protection Authority to defer any consideration on Chatham Rock Phosphate’s application to mine the Chatham Rise, until the legal anomalies of New Zealand’s Benthic Protected Areas are resolved.
Chatham Rock Phosphate (CRP) has just submitted its marine consent application with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine in a Benthic...
Chatham Rock Phosphate, the small Golden Bay-based company with big seabed mining ideas, has submitted its formal marine consent application to vacuum up phosphate nodules from the Chatham Rise.
With a plan that the seafood industry warns could have a dramatic effect on deepwater fishing, the company intends to use a giant Dutch ship to suck...
21 March, 2014
The Deepwater Group today welcomed the Minister for Primary Industries’ decision to raise the catch limit in the main southern blue whiting fishery near Campbell Island from 30,000 tonnes to 40,0000 tonnes.
“This is the main southern blue whiting fishery and the very healthy state of the stock means that we...
6 March 2014
The Deepwater Group has thrown its support behind the announcement of a Threat Management Plan (TMP) for the endangered New Zealand sea lions on the Auckland Islands.
Conservation Minister Nick Smith has announced the formation of the TMP after news of a reduced pup count on the Aucklands this past summer...
The Deepwater Group is backing the three new Marine Reserves around the Sub-Antarctic island groups of Campbell, Bounty and Antipodies.
Deepwater Group represents the fishing fleets which operate in the Southern Ocean. These islands are listed as world heritage sites and were designated nature reserves in 1954.
Deepwater CEO, George Clement, says these Marine Reserves, in which...
PRESS RELEASE BY NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT AT 2:22PM, 02 AUG 2012
Primary Industries Minister David Carter says updated scientific research has played a key part in his decision on management measures for the Auckland Islands squid trawl fishery (SQU6T).
Mr Carter today announced the maximum number of accidental fishing related sea lion deaths for the 2012/13 fishing...
28 February 2014
The Deepwater Group is to progress three oreo and two squid fisheries towards international Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) certification.
The chief executive of the Deepwater Group, George Clement, says this will bring 29 fisheries into the MSC programme, which represents 80 per cent of the deepwater catch.
“MSC certification of these fisheries will...
The reason for the decline of the sea lion pup population on the Auckland Islands needs to be identified before a solution can be found, the New Zealand seafood industry says.
The Deepwater Group has welcomed the Minister for Primary Industries, David Carter’s statement today recognising squid fishing is not responsible for the sea lion population decline.
The Deepwater Group chief executive George Clement says the seafood industry fully backs the management measures in the squid fishery to protect sea lions from harm and the research to protect an important part of New Zealand’s unique biodiversity in the Southern Ocean.
“We support the Minister’s call for the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Department of Conservation to gather information on non-fishing-related impact, to determine the reason for a declining sea lion population,” George Clement says.
“We know that introduced diseases have decimated the sea lion colonies in these remote sub Antarctic islands in the past. The pups are especially vulnerable. Based on the numbers of sea lions found with wounds from shark bites, and the high juvenile mortality, we also need to assess the effects of predation by great white sharks.”
“Similar studies on sea lions overseas have identified a disease and predator double hit. The sub Antarctic is a hostile environment with many threats. Declines have also occurred with elephant seals and penguins round the Campbell Islands, where there is no squid fishing. New Zealand and international scientists have been trying to find the reasons for the changes in these populations for many years, but the real causes have yet to be identified.
George Clement said it was clear from New Zealand and international research in the Auckland Islands, that there are broader environmental, probably non-human, drivers at play, which need to be understood. He says David Carter’s commitment today (2 Aug Eds) to more government research into ‘disease and ecosystem changes’ reflects this.
“Our industry has gone to great lengths to ensure fishing does not harm the sea lions. We have refined sea lion exclusion devices (SLEDs), which allow sea lions to escape fishing nets alive and unharmed. This has been a major achievement and this is why the Government has been able to say no sea lions have been accidently captured in this fishery in the past two seasons,” George Clement says.
“Every fishing vessel that has worked in the squid fishery near the Auckland Islands for the past five or six years has used SLEDs. Many vessels carry Government observers to make sure they stay within the strict Government reporting and compliance requirements.”
George Clement says the seafood industry has contributed millions of dollars to Department of Conservation science programmes and to other independent research. This includes measuring and assessing the environmental effects of fishing, minimising any impact, and independently monitoring and auditing fisheries’ performance.
ENDS
For more information:
George Clement CEO of the Deepwater Group
‘Ph 021 932 369021 932 369
For a short video illustrating the use of SLEDs, click here
Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith today formally established three new marine reserves covering 435,000 hectares of ocean surrounding the Antipodes, Bounty and Campbell Islands from Perseverance Harbour, Campbell Island.
"The New Zealand Subantarctic Islands are one of the most pristine places on earth and these marine reserves are about keeping them that way. The marine reserve...
Photograph by Peter Marriott/NIWA[/caption]
An annual southern Buller's albatross census on the Snares Islands has been successful with more breeding pairs counted and banded.
These remote islands, 120 km south of Stewart Island, are home to the main breeding grounds for this endemic albatross.
The survey was undertaken by scientist Paul Sagar, who like many... 
