waterfront business
Tougher rules in the Ross Sea
THE NEW ZEALAND Government and the
United States joint proposal to create the
world's largest Marine Protected Area in
the Ross Sea has been backed by Sanford
sustainable seafood company – in return
for tougher rules for vessels approved to
fish outside the MPA.
The area to be protected under the New
Zealand and United States proposal is
almost nine times the size of New Zealand
and the no-take area for fishing is six
times the size of New Zealand.
Sanford has warned that the number
of vessels in the Ross Sea is increasing
each year (up 30 percent from last year)
and the Commission for the Conservation
of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
currently has no mechanism for capping
the number of vessels or ensuring that
ships and crews are equipped to safely
operate in the ecologically sensitive and
dangerous environment.
Sanford's managing director, Eric
Barratt said their support for the MPA
is conditional on the Commission
implementing certain changes to
strengthen the assessment of vessels
before they are approved to fish in the
in brief…
non-MPA areas of the Ross Sea.
The changes will improve the
ways in which the fishery and fishing
vessels are managed and operated in
the area in order to reduce the risks to
the environment: Minimum Ice Class
standards for vessels (ships with an Ice
Class have a strengthened hull to enable
them to navigate through sea ice) and
minimum safety and inspection standards
for vessels.
Sanford says that vessels failing to
comply with CCAMLR requirements
should be excluded and that contribution
to science and research is to be to be a
key consideration in the vessel approval
process. Licensed vessels are also to meet
the Marine Stewardship Council standard
for the Ross Sea Toothfish Fishery.
Sanford's managing director, Eric
Barratt says the company supports
the 2.27 million square kilometre
protected marine area in the Ross
Sea. "But the creation of this MPA
must go hand in hand with enhanced
oversight of fishing operations outside
that area in order to realise MPA's full
environmental benefits."
South Korean trawler
grounded on Stewart
Island
While seeking shelter from a storm in the
early hours of April 26 the South Korean
owned trawler Sureste 700 was grounded
in Paterson Inlet on Stewart Island.
Despite fears of an extensive cleanup,
stormy conditions meant that diesel
spilled from a ruptured 23,000 litre fuel
tank dispersed quickly and the crew was
able to transfer approximately 20,000
litres of remaining fuel into another tank.
Environment Southland scaled back its
response, but concerns remained for the
wildlife of nearby Ulva Island. An oil spill
response team aircraft surveyed the area
finding no sign of the diesel.
The cost of the response will be paid
for by those responsible for the Sureste
and is expected to be in the thousands.
Sureste was refloated without
assistance and headed to Lyttelton for
damage inspection.
279 Port Rd, Whangarei
Ph +64 9 438 0753 , Fax +64 9 438 0467
www.shiprepair.co.nz
VIP.S93
MARINE:
www.skipper.co.nz
July/August 2013
Professional Skipper 47
