The following can be attributed to Seafood New Zealand Chief Executive Lisa Futschek:
Seafood New Zealand CEO Lisa Futschek says that the recreational fishers organising a protest regarding the Hauraki Gulf may have misunderstood the nature of the protections brought in under the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act.
"Something the protest organisers seem to misunderstand is that commercial fishing is prohibited in the vast majority of the High Protection Areas (HPAs), with a very small exception for five ring-net fishers transitioning out of fishing in two of the HPAs.
"When the HPAs were originally drawn up these Kiwi fishers were not considered. The limited exception is therefore a just transition for this handful of fishers using a very low-impact fishing method over the winter months to supply affordable protein to communities in South Auckland.
"The exception, which will be reviewed within the next three years, is also a grandfathered provision with a sunset clause - when those fishers leave the fishery or retire, the exception to fish in those two HPAs cannot be passed on.
"While we respect the right to peaceful demonstration, any outcome that resulted in commercial fishers being harassed or unfairly targeted would be completely unacceptable.
"We understand the group has other concerns that are not related to the Hauraki Gulf, and I invite them to reach out to us for a conversation - our door is always open.
"Meanwhile, we welcome the introduction of 19 new or extended protected areas under the Act, including 12 High Protection Areas (HPAs). As a shared resource, the health and mauri of the Gulf is of deep interest to us all."
