From RNZ · RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa · · 1m
Bottom Trawling Policy Divides New Zealand Politics
Opportunity Party demands end to bottom trawling in sensitive areas before next government forms.
In brief
Opportunity Party demands end to bottom trawling in sensitive areas before next government forms. Opportunity Party requires a ban on bottom trawling in sensitive areas like the Hauraki Gulf to form coalition, despite industry concerns about economic impact. Originally reported by RNZ.
Opportunity Party's Policy Demand
Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong requires an end to bottom trawling in sensitive areas including the Hauraki Gulf immediately.
“Opportunity will require an end to bottom trawling in sensitive areas, including the Hauraki Gulf, immediately. And we'll begin work to progressively phase it out completely”
Commercial Fisheries Concerns
Seventy percent of New Zealand's fish volume comes from bottom trawling, with industry leaders calling the ban proposal irresponsible.
“Seventy percent of all of the volume that is caught in New Zealand is by bottom trawling. I just think it's irresponsible for any political party to propose effectively shutting down an entire industry through a single, blanket policy”
Greenpeace's Stance
Greenpeace says bottom trawling causes ocean destruction and needs phased, targeted bans rather than immediate nationwide closures.
“This is like widespread bulldozing of our oceans, and it needs to stop. We need to start a transition away from it”
Labour and National Positions
Both Labour's Chris Hipkins and National's Christopher Luxon now support phasing out bottom trawling but acknowledge economic challenges.
“The challenge is balancing the two billion dollars and 9000 jobs associated with bottom trawling, and 70 percent of our fish coming from that source”
Industry Leader's View
Sealord CEO Doug Paulin says a ban would be a populist move but government would likely reconsider after assessing economic impacts.
“It's all very well to say we're going to phase it out, but there's no technique globally you can use to catch those fish economically”
At a glance
Opportunity Party requires a ban on bottom trawling in sensitive areas like the Hauraki Gulf to form coalition, despite industry concerns about economic impact.
