A Horizon Research poll of 1000 New Zealanders, released today ahead of submissions closing tomorrow night, puts numbers on what many already suspected. More than half of those surveyed oppose allowing the Minister to set catch limits without considering environmental impacts. Nearly two thirds oppose reduced financial penalties for vessels exceeding legal catch limits. And 53 percent support the government withdrawing the Bill entirely to allow proper public consultation.
For anyone who hasn’t yet made a submission, tonight is the last chance. Submissions close at 11.59pm on Wednesday 6 May via the Parliamentary website.
The poll figures sit alongside a submission response that has been anything but quiet. More than 30,000 people have submitted via LegaSea’s online template, with thousands of emails also sent directly to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and MPs ahead of the Bill’s first reading on 31 March.
Matt Watson, who has driven much of the social media opposition, said: “For years there has been a slow build-up of frustration over fish dumping, over-fishing and bottom trawling, as we’ve all seen the fish stocks decline. But the Fisheries Amendment Bill has amplified frustration into outrage and it’s now the first thing people ask me about wherever I go.”
“I’m bloody proud to see so many people taking a stand and making it their number one election issue. This isn’t a case of it blowing over. It won’t. People really understand how important it is to stop the big seafood companies taking control of our fisheries.”
Darren Shields, NZ spearfishing champion and owner of underwater gear brand Wettie, has spent 40 years in the industry. “No fish. No jobs. No industry. The more we lose fish, the greater the impact on retailers and our employees.” On what’s at stake beyond dollars: “It’s time we stopped destroying the marine habitat otherwise our kids won’t have anything to see when they go snorkelling or diving. It’s the Bill that needs to die, not our marine environment.”
Scott Macindoe, President of the NZ Sport Fishing Council and LegaSea spokesperson, goes straight to the principle. “The Bill guts the most important objective of fisheries management, which is managing New Zealand’s fisheries in the interests of future generations.” Public pressure produced one concession, with Fisheries Minister Shane Jones removing provisions that would have allowed the catching and selling of undersized fish. Macindoe said the rest of the Bill is still standing. “The deeper you dive into the Bill the worse it gets.”
Still in the Bill: a $50,000 fine for anyone leaking fishing vessel camera footage to the public, restrictions on the public’s ability to challenge ministerial decisions in court, and limits on future public consultation on fisheries decisions.
The survey also found 62 percent of New Zealanders support a government plan to transition the fishing industry away from bottom trawling toward lower-impact methods, with the strongest support coming from ACT and National voters.
Submissions on the Fisheries Amendment Bill close at 11.59pm tomorrow, Wednesday 6 May, at parliament.nz.
