Fisheries Amendment Bill
The Government is proposing a series of updates to the Fisheries Act. While these are being described as "modernising" the industry, they shift the balance of power toward large companies and away from the community and environment.
Our fisheries are a shared taonga, but this Bill treats them primarily as a commercial commodity. We believe that feeding whānau and protecting the moana should come before private profit.
Key concerns:
Transparency is being shut down
The Bill would stop the public from accessing on-board camera footage by exempting it from the Official Information Act. In the past, access to on-board camera footage has helped hold commercial fishing accountable and highlight issues with the process.
Barrier to input
The Bill sets a strict 20-working-day limit for anyone wanting to challenge a fisheries decision in the High Court.
This is a tiny window of time. It makes it hard for whānau, iwi, or community groups to organise, while large corporations with ready-to-go legal teams will have no trouble.
Concentration of power
The Minister is given expanded discretion to set and adjust catch limits with fewer checks and reduced environmental obligations, centralising decision-making power.
Why this matters now
These changes are being pushed through to drive economic growth, but that growth comes at a high cost to public health and the health of our oceans. We advocate for a system that puts the environment and people first, ensuring that our moana remains abundant for generations to come.
Issue areas:
- Community Wellbeing
- Marine Environment
- Primary Production Select Committee