Maritime Union joins calls to end joint venture fishing

The Mari­time Uni­on of New Zea­l­and has added its voice to calls for the remov­al of for­eign-crewed joint ven­ture fish­ing ves­sels from New Zea­l­and fish­er­ies.
Mari­time Uni­on Gen­er­al Sec­ret­ary Tre­vor Han­son says he agrees with the com­mon sense approach to the prob­lem out­lined by the New Zea­l­and Fed­er­a­tion of Com­mer­cial Fish­er­men.
“There is no need for for­eign charter ves­sels to be work­ing New Zea­l­and waters. Remov­ing over­seas oper­at­ors could boost loc­al employ­ment whilst at the same time allow for fur­ther cuts to quota to ensure future sus­tain­ab­il­ity.”
He says crews on joint ven­ture ves­sels don’t pay ACC or PAYE, and there have been ongo­ing con­cerns about the treat­ment of over­seas fish­ing work­ers on board.
“Reg­u­la­tion is required for the pro­tec­tion of fish stocks, jobs and work­ing con­di­tions.”
Mr Han­son says the over­fish­ing of New Zea­l­and waters is an indict­ment of the failed approach of the past.
He says around 25 years ago when for­eign joint ven­tures arrived in New Zea­l­and waters, industry and Gov­ern­ment wel­comed them as the way for­ward for train­ing of New Zea­l­and fish­er­men and estab­lish­ment of a New Zea­l­and industry.
“Only a very small per­cent­age of this prom­ise came true. It turned out to be much easi­er to bring in cheap labour and cheap char­ter­ers, which meant big­ger profits for the New Zea­l­and part­ners.”
The remov­al of for­eign joint ven­tures in favour of New Zea­l­and fish­ing ves­sels would have imme­di­ate bene­fits for New Zea­l­and pro­cess work­ers and fish­er­men, and could assist in the regen­er­a­tion of over­fished spe­cies.