The only specialised marine publication in Oceania that focuses on the maritime industry, from super yachts to small craft to large commercial ships, including coastal shipping, tugs, tow boats, barges, ferries, tourist, sport-fishing craft
Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/63646
WATERWAYS – Waterfront Business In brief… Sealord reprimanded Italy's leading canned tuna brand, Mareblu has joined a growing list of retailers that who no longer sell tuna caught using purse seine nets set around fish aggregating devices (FADs), the method used by fleets supplying Sealord, who are refusing to change their sourcing policy. "It's very disappointing that Sealord, New Zealand's largest canned tuna brand is ignoring this trend as more and more businesses abandon the use of destructive FADs and commit to supporting marine reserves, says Greenpeace New Zealand Oceans Campaigner Karli Thomas. Sealord and other brands which are refusing to clean up their supplies and provide consumers with the sustainable products they are demanding." Retailers and manufacturers who have committed to not using, or phasing out FAD-caught tuna, include: United States grocery giant Safeway, all major tuna brands in the United Kingdom, New Zealand retailer Foodstuffs Pams, and Greenseas (Heinz, Australia). Mareblu and have committed to catching all tuna by pole and line or in purse seine nets which do not use FADs by 2016, and will not source tuna or other fish from the network of areas in the Pacific Ocean known as the Pacific Commons. Japan ends whaling season short Japan's whaling ships have headed home from the Antarctic Ocean this week with 266 minke whales and one fin whale or, less than a third of its quota of 900. The Japan Fisheries Agency blamed the shortfall on "sabotage" by anti- whaling activists who say it is a cover for commercial whaling. There has been a ban on commercial whaling for 25 years, but Japan catches about 1000 whales each year and says that it is conducting "legal research" in a scientific programme. A JFA official says the catch was smaller than planned due to factors including weather conditions and sabotage acts by activists. "There were definitely sabotage campaigns behind the figure. " "I think it's been a very successful campaign," said Paul Watson of the US-based anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd. The Australian government has welcomed Japan's decision to recall its whaling fleet "Japan's whaling activities are contrary to international law and, that is why Australia commenced and will continue legal action in the International Court of Justice," says a spokesman. 46 Professional Skipper May/June 2012 DEATHS TRAGIC FOR SPECIES THE MINISTRY OF Agriculture and Forestry said two Hectors dolphins were found washed up in set nets on a north Canterbury beach. Set nets are currently banned along the South Island's eastern coast out to four miles. Research suggests 23 dolphins a year are caught in nets outside the four mile limit. Environmental Defence Society's Raewyn Peart and Forest and Bird's Katrina Subedar are calling for Primary Industries Minister David Carter to use emergency powers to take urgent interim action to save Hectors, and their near relation Maui's dolphins, while permanent protection measures are put in place. These measures would include extending the set net prohibition zone south along the Taranaki coast, full observer coverage of fishing vessels operating within the marine mammal sanctuary area, and for regional councils to urgently strengthen provisions for activities such as mining and coastal development in their regional coastal plans. Hector's dolphin are a long-lived species. Females take about eight years to reach adulthood and only produce one or two calves once every couple of years." Subedar said that Hector's dolphins are found up to 20 miles off the coast: "To better protect Hector's dolphins, the set net ban must be expanded to include Tasman and Golden Bays and further offshore along the east coast of the South Island," she said. Both organisations have also issued statements recently in response to a Department of Conservation research report estimating there are now only 55 adult Maui dolphins remaining. Contrived 'CRA' quota management A MINISTERIAL DECISION to re-allocate recreational crayfish quota to commercial interests took effect on April 1, 2012 in the Gisborne area, while new management decisions for crayfish will apply in the Wellington/Hawke Bay, Marlborough and Otago areas. The decisions have outraged both the community and New Zealand Recreational Fishing Council. Alain Jorion, the Fishing Council's Gisborne representative, believes the 17 percent increase is unjustified. "David Carter's decision is a slap in the face for many locals and the council. The 29 tonne quota increase, combined with the ongoing concession that allows commercial fishers to take crayfish smaller than the amateur limit, means it will be a long time before we are likely to have a healthy stock around Gisborne." There are suggestions that commercial interests have taken control of the National Rock Lobster Management Group, the statutory body charged with representing all interest groups. These suggestions are supported by Mark Connor, the president of the NZ Sport Fishing Council. "Contrived management procedures have been applied and used in advice to the minister, who is obviously willing to risk increasing commercial catch at the earliest signs of a rebuild. This decision is a sad outcome." The Supreme Court made it plain to the minister in 2009 that fisheries management must make an allowance for the public that meets both quantity and quality thresholds. "Current recreational allowances applying around Gisborne are meaningless if commercial interests are capturing the majority of crayfish before they are even of legal size," Connor said. The council recognizes that the recreational representatives cannot speak out because of a ministry applied media gag and is consulting with its members before deciding how to respond to this latest decision.