How will commercial fishers be better off under Rescue Fish?

Under Rescue Fish the Government buys back the quota for inshore fish stocks. The buy-back cost is recovered over time from resource rentals applied to fishing permits. There will be a tender process and the agreed price the fisher pays for the permit will be the resource rental that goes to the Crown in recognition that a public resource is being exploited. Fishing permits will only be issued to the fishermen and women working on the water and they will only pay the resource rental on landed catch.

There will be no more rents gathered by quota owners, so all profits from fishing go to the hardworking fishermen and women. This is to encourage fishers to sell their fish locally or seek the highest export price.

Rescue Fish removes the barriers to entry so young people can go commercial fishing and make a decent return for their effort. It’s jobs and keeping it local. A win-win for everyone.

How do the multi-species permits work?

Catch limits in mixed finfish fisheries will be set to account for those species that live or move together. Fixed term commercial permits will be conditioned by Output limits. Output limits will replace the existing quota limits for single species. 

Output limits will be described as equivalents to account for mixed species catches. All catches will be accounted for against a gross biomass limit, and particular species will have attached transfer ratios to allow them to be counted as equivalents. For example, in the North Island’s northern waters the biomass limits would be Snapper equivalents (SNAE). The other species that live with and are caught in the same areas will have a conversion ratio to allow them to be defined as Snapper equivalents. It may be that 2 kg of Gurnard requires 1 kg of SNAE to be in balance. The ratio is a combination of economic value and ecological risk. 

What are the benefits of having multi-species commercial fishing permits?

Having multi-species commercial fishing permits in mixed finfish fisheries addresses the failings associated with single species management. Multi-species permits represent a more holistic way to manage life within the marine environment. 

The benefits of multi-species permits include the following - 

1. Removes target and bycatch categories. Catch is catch and ALL catch will be landed. 
2. Moves from single species to multi-species management. 
3. Removes the complexity of catch balancing and the current deemed values regime.
4. Reduces the economic incentives for fishers to dump their catch. 
5. Encourages innovation. 
6. Removes the incentives to deploy indiscriminate bulk harvesting methods. 
7. Improves public perception of effective management and fishing practices.

What conditions will apply to commercial fishing permits?

Under Rescue Fish commercial fishing permits will be issued for a fixed term. Permits will limit the quantity of fish that can be landed, the amount of effort that can be applied, and the area where fishing can occur. Permits will be allocated by competitive tender, the tender price will represent a resource rental payment to the Crown. Electronic monitoring will be mandatory. 

Multi-species commercial fishing permits specifying a gross combined weight will be issued for mixed finfish fisheries. Catch limits in mixed finfish fisheries will be set to account for those species that live or move together. 

Why does Rescue Fish promote fixed term commercial fishing permits?

Under Rescue Fish commercial fishing permits will have a fixed term of no longer than 5 to 8 years. 

Fixed term commercial fishing permits provide the following benefits - 

1. Removes the barriers to entry, encouraging people especially younger people into fishing, and creating jobs in associated industries. 
2. Restores competition for fish and fish products. 
3. Prevents industry capture of the regulator. 
4. Provides a competitive market for commercial access rights. 
5. Drives economic efficiency and innovation. 
6. Decentralises commercial fishing effort to encourage local participation and promote regional economies.

Under Rescue Fish how long will a commercial fishing permit last?

Under Rescue Fish commercial fishing permits will have a fixed term of no longer than 5 to 8 years. 

The permit can only be used by the permit holder. This means the person fishing must hold the permit as there will be no absentee ownership. There will be no private sales of permits or any fishing authority issued by the Government.

Does Rescue Fish support taking an ecosystem-based management (EBM) approach?

Yes. Rescue Fish advocates immediately moving to an Ecosystem-based Management (EBM) approach to governance. In terms of management, removing mobile bottom contact fishing methods that destroy the seabed and its organisms will be a giant step forward in terms of EBM. 

However, in any EBM proposal it is important to start with a definition of what an ecosystem based approach would entail if operationalised; that is because it is not possible nor necessary to embark on a lengthy and complex scientific modeling approach that attempts to measure and describe all of the inputs and outputs of an ecosystem so that they can be described in law. 

For Rescue Fish we had discussions with international experts to determine the best way to give effect to the concept of EBM. The answer is to begin by simply setting stock targets for all stocks at no less than 50% of the unfished biomass. That is managing a fish stock to ensure it regrows to 50% of its natural size. 

Ideally, we would be targeting 60% of the unfished biomass. However, if we begin with 50% then ecosystem strength and resilience will be enhanced and this will make a huge difference to the current status of stocks (now measured against a limit of 20%). 

It is detrimental that fisheries managers and the QMS assume far greater knowledge of the impact of fishing on the environment than is currently possible. Moreover, one of the clear failings of New Zealand’s Quota Management System (QMS) is that fishing limits are based on simplistic single-species models of sustainable harvest. 

LegaSea wants to see limits based on a much richer understanding of the impact of fishing, on both the fish and the environment in which they live. In New Zealand we are still developing our collective understanding of these complex systems. Rescue Fish supports taking an ecosystem approach to managing our marine environment.

Why do you say that Māori only own around 10.7% of the total quota share value when they actually own more than 40% of all quota?

Independent analysis by the NZ Institute of Economic Research shows that on the information available Māori own around 40% of quota shares (by volume) but only 10.7% of the total quota share value. This is a conservative estimate of iwi ownership and value because not all the relevant details are available; that is understandable given the commercial sensitivity of the information. For Rescue Fish to succeed it was important to work out what a fair exchange might be for those shares if they were bought out by the government. More here on pages 23-26.

Does the Rescue Fish policy support the establishment of marine reserves?

Yes, however, the Rescue Fish policy is focused on managing fish stocks at higher levels and restoring biodiversity so establishing a marine reserve is not the first priority.

The Rescue Fish policy proposes that we turn the entire coastline of New Zealand into a Special Management Area. Rules can be made to ban all bottom contact, non-selective commercial fishing techniques such as trawling and dredging, and only allow the use methods that have minimal impact.

Rescue Fish is designed to facilitate more local and regional management with a particular focus on traditional Māori management techniques such as rāhui and mataitai. At a national level, co-governance of fisheries resources by Māori and the Crown will facilitate more precautionary management of the resources in the interests of future generations.

Will I have to pay more for fish if the Rescue Fish policy is adopted?

It depends on where you buy it. Under the Rescue Fish policy you will be able to purchase fish directly from fishing boats as they come in to the wharf. This cuts out the middle men of the supply chain. With the fish going direct from the fisher to the consumer your fish could be cheaper.

There may be more competition at the wharf for fish caught locally and fresh. If you are buying a premium product retail prices may increase.

In comparison, much of the fish available now has been frozen or sent chilled around the country after being trawl caught.

Under Rescue Fish your purchase will contribute to supporting innovation, environmentally friendly fishing methods and conscientious commercial fishers.