Tasked with engaging with New Zealand's seafood sector, Jenny Marcroft brings a passion for people and progress to her role as Parliamentary Under Secretary to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries. With little knowledge of the kaimoana sector before stepping into the role, Seafood New Zealand was keen to hear what she's picked up so far, the challenges and opportunities she sees, and her vision for the future of the sector.
For those wondering, what is the role of the Parliamentary Under Secretary to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries? My role is to support our very busy Minister by engaging directly with stakeholders across the seafood sector. I travel the country, meet with people in the industry, hear their concerns and ideas, and report back to the Minister.
Even though the Minister already knows the sector really well, he wanted to make sure there's consistent government presence and engagement across New Zealand. And that's where I come in.
I just love meeting people and hearing their stories. We've got some amazing brains in this industry as well. And so much potential. I get lots of invitations and am working hard to get around the country and meet with as many in the sector as I can. In my office I have maps of the North and South Islands, and I pin all the locations I visit. It's a great visual way to track my progress.
Most New Zealanders have a connection with the ocean and seafood. What experiences in your life have shaped the way you see the seafood sector? Well, I think you're right, we all have some connection to the ocean and seafood somehow, in some way, shape or form.
As a kid, my family spent a lot of time at our family bach in Pukehina in the Bay of Plenty. Mum loved surfcasting; my father would take us out hand lining down at the estuary. And then there was tuatua. We were always collecting and scoffing tuatua. My father ate them raw out of the shell, but I wasn't so keen. All of this was just part of our life growing up as a typical Kiwi family in the '60s and '70s.
Can you share a bit about your background and how you ended up in this role? I first started out as a teacher, then moved into media, where I spent over 30 years. Radio really was my first passion. Then, I suppose because along the way you learn a lot of communication skills, a natural fit for me was to get into politics.
In 2017, I had the opportunity to join New Zealand First and entered Parliament. After that term, the party didn't return to Parliament. However, I came back with New Zealand First in 2023 and had the absolute pleasure and privilege of being appointed as a Parliamentary Under Secretary. Minister Shane Jones - Matua Shane - was looking for support in the Oceans and Fisheries portfolio, and I was honoured to be offered the role.
What's your vision for the seafood sector? This is a really productive sector of our economy. That aside, seafood is an undervalued source of clean, sustainable protein.
We're lucky we can get the freshest of fish, we can harvest tuatua, we can go gather mussels in various parts of the country and we can eat this beautiful protein that's really good and healthy for us. My vision is to make sure we maintain access to this.
I've seen over the last number of years that the industry's taken an absolute hammering from environmental groups. But I think what's often missing from the conversation is just how valuable this protein is for our health. I'd love to see less misinformation about the sector and for it to be embraced and valued more by every day, regular Kiwis.
There's a lesson we can take from what the dairy industry has done - pushing back on disinformation and actively reporting on and marketing the valuable properties of clean, lean protein.
Since you've been in this role, what's stood out to you about New Zealand's seafood industry? It's always the people, right? Whether it's a one-manband fisher or a big commercial outfit, everyone is so passionate. Whether they're out on oyster or mussel farms or the big boats, they all love what they do. They understand the importance of a sustainable fishery with healthy fish stocks for our future generations.
As my maps show, I've travelled nearly all over and been so impressed. In the Far North, Te Aupōuri Fisheries mussel spat project is awesome - raising them bigger for better survival. Down in Bluff, Manāki Whitebait is doing exciting things. Nelson and Marlborough are leading with blue carbon and other science work.
Whangaruru was a highlight - Ngātiwai ki Whangaruru want to set up marine gardens. I went out on the harbour with them and then had one of the best seafood feeds of my life. Incredible hospitality and vision.
What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the commercial fishing sector right now? Well, for a start there's too much misinformation out there. The sector is innovating and improving all the time, and it deserves more recognition. It's not the 1980s anymore.
Then there are the economic challenges. Take the age of the fleet, for example. I've talked to fishers whose boats are over 40 years old. They don't have the financial reserves to upgrade their vessels. These older boats need more fuel, and fuel prices have been high. These costs have really impacted them. If they could upgrade their f leet - or even a single boat - they would be able to use less fuel. So, these sorts of challenges sit on top of the social licence problems.
Another big challenge is attracting, training and retaining Kiwi crew. That's something I've heard raised numerous times over the past year. It goes hand in hand with social licence. If fishers are constantly being targeted, why would rangatahi want to go work on a fishing boat, or for the local fisherman, if all you're seeing in the media - especially on social media - is negativity about the industry?
It's a real shame, because it can offer a great career path and a solid pipeline of work. And I think one of the exciting things we are seeing in the industry is the science - some really promising developments - and young people getting involved in that science and the growth of the aquaculture industry.
So, what are some of the opportunities for the seafood sector? Well, we've got the Seafood Sustainability Awards coming up soon - it would be remiss of me not to mention that. I'm really looking forward to the nominations, especially seeing our rangatahi getting involved and celebrated.
There's some amazing work happening out there. We've seen great innovation too - Flip Farm Technology, hook pods and advances with the longliners. It's important we showcase that. As a government, we need to recognise the people and the collective effort that's contributed to nearly $2.2 billion in export revenue. That's a huge achievement and deserves to be celebrated.
Seafood prices have been high with tight global supply, but we're hoping that recent fuel price drops will bring better returns next financial year, especially as demand picks up again in the China market.
Fisheries Act reform is also a big opportunity. It's about making decision-making more responsive and efficient, providing greater protection for onboard camera footage, and also the new rules around, in terms of the QMS fish that are caught - what must be landed and what may be able to be returned to sea.
What message do you have for the sector? I think probably the most important thing is that this government sees them and understands their worth and value, and to encourage them to keep doing what they're doing, because we understand that it's not always easy.
The big question is what's your favourite seafood? All of it - except kina. I'm not so keen on kina. It's really hard to choose just one favourite because it depends on the season. I've recently had some Bluff oysters, I love them. I also love Pacific oysters and pāua. I adore crayfish. A tuatua, any time of year, is also good by me.
I eat fish a couple of times a week. My favourite, when I can get it, is blue cod - just pan-fried in butter. That's all it needs. I'm all about eating seafood without adornment. Fresh, obviously, is best. With tuatua, just steam the shell open and eat them.
