Labour’s proposal to extend the Kermadec Islands marine reserve completely ignores New Zealand’s strong record of sustainably managing its fisheries in the area says the New Zealand Industry Seafood Council.
“Fishing has been carried out in the area for at least fifty years and at the same time the Kermadecs remain a ‘pristine’ marine area,” says Peter Bodeker, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Seafood Industry Council.
“It is evident that fishing under New Zealand’s world-leading fisheries management regime is totally compatible with maintaining biodiversity values in the area.
“There is no benefit for conservation or biodiversity from preventing fishing in the area,” says Mr Bodeker.
The industry has already taken the initiative to create a Benthic Protection Area in the entire Kermadec EEZ removing any biodiversity risk from bottom fishing. Benthic Protection Areas are those closed to all types of trawling and dredging.
The existing marine reserve, covering the territorial sea around the Kermadec Islands, is already New Zealand’s largest marine reserve.
Mr Bodeker said that the prospect of foregoing all potential economic benefit that might be derived from this vast area is short-sighted and irresponsible.
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