Read our submission to Fisheries NZ on sustainability measures for October 2021

New Zealand is in an enviable position when it comes to ocean resources, with the fourth largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), but a humble population of just 5 million.

This means we have a unique opportunity to manage our fisheries in a truly sustainable way, including protecting the species that rely on our fish and maintaining the ecosystems that support them.  

Many people believe we need to change the existing law to manage our fisheries better. And while it is true that there is plenty of justification to reform the laws governing our oceans, in the meantime there is still plenty of room to do better under existing laws.  This is where ELI is currently focussing its efforts.  

ELI is concerned that our fisheries are being managed at levels too low, and without sound consideration of marine ecosystem health and integrity. The overfishing of kina predators is resulting in the 'deforestation' of ocean kelp forests, which are vital habitats for fish and other marine life.  Populations of many penguins and other seabirds have also declined to dangerously low levels. A greater abundance of fish in the ocean leads to more sustainable fish stocks, more economically viable fisheries, and healthier ecosystems. Rebuilding fish stocks and maintaining them at abundant levels makes sense ecologically, economically, and culturally. 

With these aims in mind, ELI recently submitted on some proposals by Fisheries New Zealand wanting to increase the catches of southern bluefin tuna and west coast north island snapper.  Both of these stocks are in better shape than the dangerously low biomass levels they have been at previously, which is something to be celebrated. However, we cannot not take these developments for granted. Hasty increases to the TAC risks undoing the important restoration progress that many groups have worked hard to achieve. 

The ‘regeneration’ of these fish stocks provides New Zealand with a second chance to learn from previous management failures and to do better. With the world facing a fork in the road on climate and biodiversity, any decisions towards the more sustainable management of our fisheries are of critical importance.