Multimillion dollar fishing companies of New Zealand and all fishermen are looking upto new fisheries minister to protect their right to fish; he describes the portfolio as one with “huge tensions”. Former fisheries minister Jim Anderton acknowledges the near impossibility of pleasing every stakeholder with a hook in New Zealand’s fisheries resource. After three years of manning the portfolio, Anderton said he despaired at recreational fishermen agreeing on anything and had stopped turning up to seafood industry meetings.
Heatley, new fisheries minister, said that the first plan of attack is to get the facts. Research is at the top of his list, with a complete review of the way the Fisheries Ministry does its research, paid for by the commercial industry to the tune of $33 million a year. Heatley has faith the commercial fishing industry is sticking to the rules. Quoting his six years as opposition fisheries spokesman, Heatley admits there are “ratbags” in any industry but overall is a fan of the commercial sector’s practices.
According to the new minister there was no need for new legislation, nor should fishermen of any creed have their right to legally challenge the Government removed. With a firm belief in the commercial sector behaving itself, his personal front line is the nation’s beaches. Heatley plans to use this year’s budget to bolster the resources available to fisheries officers battling poaching.
