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.