Bottom Trawling (SCOOP)

[Steve O'Shea]

Just announced today .... or about to in ~ 20 minutes!

Jim Anderton is the New Zealand Minister of Fisheries!

 

[Steve O'Shea]

.. and a CU on the last page.

It looks like some progressive management is actually happening. Stay tuned for more results!

 

[cthulhu77]

fingers crossed here, senior'!

 

[Steve O'Shea]

It's massive!!!! Little guys and the environment won out!

You would have to download the huge powerpoint slide show to see it all, and there's typical industry spin throughout, but congratulations to the industry are warranted. WHerever you see a heavy red line on the attached map WILL(maybe) BE CLOSED TO BOTTOM TRAWLING!! Stippled means extending into international waters.

Go to www.seafood.co.nz
(and wait 30 mins to download)

It's about 30%!! of the EEZ. A lot of it is deep and featureless, but a lot of it is not! First steps! A most excellent start!

 

[tonmo]

Cool deal, Steve! Thanks for the heads-up! I'll sticky this to give it top billing.

 

[Steve O'Shea]

Update
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3572218a10,00.html

New bottom trawling deal announced
14 February 2006

A draft agreement has been reached with deepwater fishing companies to close more than 30 per cent of New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to bottom trawling, Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton said today.

[click link above to read entire article]

 

[cuttlegirl]

Congratulations! Amazing that they are willing to take "interim measures" to protect the environment.

 

[chrono_war01]

congrats, Steve. Hope more good news will follow after these first steps in the right direction!

 

[Phil]

This is great news. Well done to all those involved in pushing this legislation through.

 

[Euprymna]

cool indeed! Let's just hope other nations will follow...

eups

 

[myopsida]

..


. A lot of it is deep and featureless, but a lot of it is not! First steps! A most excellent start!

Good observation! BUT: Apart from the Kermadec/Colville ridge area, which is generally too rocky and rugged to trawl anyway, the areas selected are far beyond the depths capable of being reached by current trawling technology (2+ km deep!) and are among the lowest areas of biomass on the planet (virtual biological desserts). It is massive - the little guys and the environmentalists have been conned and outwitted - I agree, a great start, but it will make it impossible to get any additional protected areas in coastal and offshore reefs in trawlable depths which are at greatest risk!

 

[Toren]

That's the best Valentine's gift of all!

 

[Steve O'Shea]

I agree, a great start, but it will make it impossible to get any additional protected areas in coastal and offshore reefs in trawlable depths which are at greatest risk!

M, a 'little bird' tells me that there is 'ongoing consultation' regarding the NE coast of North Island, which has been specifically excluded from consideration in this first proposal (so we'll not discount the possibility of something happening in that region in the not-too-distant future). The Kermadec closure is undoubtedly the most important of all - the scale of that truly impresses me - it is a staggering concession on the part of the industry. My only comment today, because I have been quoted as saying that "I'll give the fishing industry a day off from criticism" (unusually generous of me; it's probably giving myself a day off more than anything), is that I would have liked to have seen something substantial set aside on the Norfolk & Lord Howe Rise's (mostly in international waters, so not really relevant here), and the Macquarie Ridge/Puysegur Trench region.

The good thing about this is that the industry have shown their cards, and they consider the figure of 30% to be the baseline starting point for negotiation.

I remain a positive chappy. The tide has turned.

 

[Jean]

Saw this on the news last night and thought you'd be having a celebratory drinkie or two!!

J

 

[monty]