Fishing industry proposal for Benthic Protection Areas
Media statement: 15 June 2006
The exclusion of non-fishing interests, poor methodology, and failure to ensure adequate marine protection are among the New Zealand Conservation Authority's criticisms of the proposal by the Deepwater Stakeholder Group (who are members of the New Zealand fishing industry) for dealing with the effects of bottom trawling.
"We're fine with fishers putting their own interests first, and welcome their acceptance of a need for deep sea floor protection but their proposal for Benthic Protection Areas appears to be more about special treatment of their interests than responsible management of the marine environment," NZCA chairman Kerry Marshall said today.
He was speaking on behalf the NZCA who met today in Wellington to discuss their submission to the Ministry of Fisheries consultation document on the establishment of Benthic Protection Areas. Submissions closed last Friday (9 June).
If approved, the proposal would bind the Minister of Fisheries into an accord with the fishing industry that would limit the matters the Minister may consider when exercising his decision making powers, Mr Marshall said.
"In effect, what this does is protect the interests of the fishing industry to the exclusion of anyone else's interests. The proposal is fatally flawed, from the methods chosen to the conclusions reached."
In particular, the NZCA considers:
- That an "accord" between a single stakeholder and the Minister of Fisheries that could lead to law changes to entrench the rights and interests of the fishing sector is highly inappropriate
- That the proposed continuation of fishing with methods other than bottom trawling and dredging does not constitute marine protection nor enable the full range of ecosystems to be protected.
- That the BPAs proposed by the fishing industry will fail to ensure protection of a fully-representative range of habitats and ecosystems.
- That the method for BPA selection was ad hoc and not based on science.
- That acceptance of the proposal and the approach taken would inhibit the Minister's future options for marine protection elsewhere in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
- That the timing of the proposal to establish BPAs will conflict with the marine protection processes already in train, and could undermine the development of a comprehensive Oceans Policy.
- That the proposed repeal of existing seamount protection and closures should be opposed.
- That the recommendations for restrictions on research and acquisition of new knowledge about the New Zealand marine area are of concern.
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