If I was advising the New Zealand fishing industry I would tell them that straight up lying to people isn't a great way to build trust.
Overfished stocks in 2022 data:
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/fishing-aquaculture/fisheries-management/fish-stock-status/
This is really important research in the Hauraki Gulf and for all ecosystem-based fisheries management.
"With relatively low diet flexibility across the whole food web, a 10% reduction in the biomass of any single group of small/medium pelagic fishes led to a 3.5–5.8% reduction in the total biomass of birds, a 2.0–2.4% reduction in the biomass of cetaceans, and a 0.4–0.6% reduction in the biomass of snapper."
A good example of the complexities of ecosystem-based fisheries management and how difficult it is to choose a baseline.
Who's baseline?
Dolphins return to B.C. waters in great numbers, but some consider them 'invasive species'
"Three stratified random #trawl surveys completed between 2018–2020 off the west coast North Island using RV Kaharoa provided a comparison with historical surveys last carried out in 1999. The time series reveals a substantial increase in #snapper #biomass has occurred since 1999, but a decline in pre-recruit red #gurnard was apparent. John #dory biomass also trended downwards."
Disappointing to see this rhetoric below from the Environmental Defence Society.
“Secondly, EDS has serious concerns about the independence of the process for identifying habitats. Fisheries NZ is to have final sign off, after review by fisheries science working groups which have industry representatives on them. This means that vested interests can influence the outcome."
#fisheries #ebfm #FisheriesManagement #marineecology #marine
17 November 2022 The Environmental Defence Society has lodged its submission on the Fisheries NZ proposals for Guidelines and Operational Proposals on habitat of particular significance for fisheries management and says the proposals won’t work. ...
I haven't seen any news about this. I just heard about it from a mate tonight. It has fairly major implications so it's unusual it hasn't been picked up on by the media.
High Court finds Minister for Oceans and Fisheries must consider wider ecosystem when setting catch limits for fishing — Environmental Law Initiative
https://www.eli.org.nz/research-legal-cases/cra1-decision-press-release
ELI is pleased to announce the success of our first major litigation. The case, “CRA1”, is a judicial review by ELI and Te Uri o Hikihiki hapū, challenging the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Total Allowable Catch (TAC) decision for the Northland Rock Lobster stock in 2021 and 2022. The High Court
Andy McKay
