This week, we've handed the pen to our colleague Rosa Edwards. Sadly, Rosa is leaving us this week to travel the world - first stop, Mexico! While many of us in the industry are still in denial that she's going, we thought it was important to get her unfiltered thoughts on her time as the Inshore Fisheries Manager, especially regarding her work in the protected species space.
Over my time at Seafood New Zealand, I've seen a gradual but hugely positive shift toward greater awareness and responsibility from the inshore and highly migratory species fleets when it comes to protected species.
I'm happy to say that today most fishers and companies I meet and talk with - about 75% of my role is focused on engaging directly with fishers - treat protected species mitigation as part of everyday business. There's greater awareness, more willingness to engage and a growing recognition that small changes now can prevent bigger problems later.
While the progress has been rewarding to see, and be part of, it's still a bit uneven across the sector. Some people and companies are slower to come to the party, and it often takes quite a bit more coaxing and convincing to do things a little differently.
I don't believe this is because they don't care. Most fishers I know feel deeply connected to the ocean and all that lives within it. I can recognise that because I share the same passion. I'm a keen surfer, a novice sailor and I spent many years studying aquaculture, fisheries and marine science. I know they care, they're just busy doing their best to keep their businesses and boats afloat.
But what I've learned over my four years in this role, is that being slow to act can cost us - directly in terms of protected species, which then leads to lack of public trust and even risking loss of access to fishing grounds.
On a more positive note, one of the best examples of how things can change is our domestic surface longline fleet. Not long ago this small fleet of owner-operator boats were among the worst performers when it came seabird captures. But when the pressure came, they didn't ignore it, they stepped up - I don't mean with a single silver bullet like hook pods or the 3x3 rule, but by taking responsibility for those captures and the need to reduce them.
We've spent hours sitting with fishers, brainstorming ideas and discussing potential solutions on how they could address the problem. While there's always more to do, we've seen their hard work pay off in recent years.
To me, that's what success looks like. There's no quick fix here, it's about attitude, ownership of the problem, a willingness to changes when it really matters and a strong commitment to stick at it even when times get tough.
Now, the inshore trawl fleet is following that same path, especially with regard to Hector's dolphins. After a full year implementing the Bycatch Reduction Plan, a framework that places fishers at the heart of the solution, we've learnt a lot through increasing engagement with these operators. The momentum is definitely building and I'm proud to see it.
Given the success of these fisher-centric approaches to bycatch mitigation, which have occurred hand in hand with increased data collection and verification, we're seeing a shift toward responding in real-time to protected species captures. Success relies on capture data being delivered in a timely manner to the right people, having knowledgeable folks on-call to provide support to fishers (hats off to our Liaison Officers), and the fishers and fishing companies being genuinely invested and engaged in the response process (hats off to them too). It's still a work in progress, but it feels like the start of a new era - one that's faster, smarter, and grounded in accountability and shared responsibility.
And of course, we all know the industry's reputation is always on the line. Environmental groups are watching closely, and while it can often feel like we're on opposite sides of the fence, I think at times their pressure has been necessary. In my experience, our relationship with environmental groups varies, but there's often more alignment than we realise. In many cases, we agree on 85%-90% of the problem - we just take different routes to solving it.
So, what now?
If there's one thing the industry can do right now to make a difference, it's this: treat protected species mitigation as core business. Take the time to listen and learn from each other and then act collectively. Don't dilly-dally.
We need to lead, not just when we're pushed, but because it's the right thing to do - for the species, for the sector, and for the future of the industry.
I want to give a massive thanks to everyone I've worked with over the past few years - it's been equally challenging and rewarding,and we have some truly awesome people across Aotearoa doing epic mahi for the industry. While I'm off to South America for a bit I'll be cheering you on from afar and no doubt, you'll be seeing me again because I probably won't be able to stay away for long.
