“New Zealand needs to bring its fisheries law into line with international best practice. The Fisheries Act and the Quota Management System is failing to ensure New Zealand’s fish stocks are sustainable. A factor in this is the lack of a proper precautionary principle,” Greenpeace Political Advisor Geoff Keey told Voxy.
“Today’s vote will be a test of political parties’ commitment to sustainable fisheries. Failure to back this amendment will send a clear signal to voters that MPs are not serious about sustainability.”
According to Mr Keey, Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton made an effort in decisions about sustainable fisheries, but has been hampered by a flawed Quota Management System and a litigious industry hell-bent on being able to over-fish declining fisheries.
The Green Party has tabled Supplementary Order Paper to require the Minister to exercise the Precautionary Principle in line with international best practice. It addresses flaws in the Government’s own amendment to the Fisheries Act, reports Voxy.
Anton’s Fisheries sparked the Government’s law change through a successful High Court challenge to the Minister of Fisheries’ ability to limit Orange Roughy takes north of Taranaki and Bay of Plenty.
Greens Fish for Support on Act Amendment
NEW ZEALAND - Greenpeace has called upon New Zealand's MPs to back the Green party's Fisheries Act amendment which will be debated in Parliament today.