ealthiest fisheries in the world, Te Ohu Kaimoana Chief Executive Peter Douglas said.
An international scientific research paper, Rebuilding Global Fisheries, published in the latest issue of the respected journal Science, found New Zealand’s fishery, along with Alaska’s, was the healthiest of 31 fisheries studied around the world.
“Iwi and Maori are big players in New Zealand fisheries and they should take a bow. This is a very pleasing endorsement of their real commitment, and Te Ohu Kaimoana’s commitment, to sustainability and good fisheries management,” Mr Douglas said.
He said it was particularly gratifying coming 20 years since Maori began to take their rightful place in New Zealand’s fisheries with the interim settlement of commercial fisheries claims between Maori and the Crown in 1989.
“No one in the industry, least of all iwi and Maori, will rest on their laurels; there is a lot of work still to be done to keep protecting our fisheries and make them more sustainable, but this is a real boost and it should be recognised as such,” he said.
“What we have here is strong scientific endorsement of the health of New Zealand’s fisheries. This is comprehensive research that has been conducted by a team of highly regarded international scientists.”
Mr Douglas said it was a timely and factual assessment of New Zealand fisheries.
“The fisheries industry at times gets a lot of criticism, but too often it’s emotive and anecdotal, and from vested interests who frankly will never be happy. It’s important that we use hard science such as this combat the emotive misinformation out there,” he said.
“Maori were fishing a thousand years ago. We want to be fishing in a thousand years time. Maori and iwi are committed to sustainable fishing,” he said.
