The Labour Party’s lack of policy

In the lead up to the 2017 general election, the Labour Party devised a commendable policy covering commercial and recreational fishing and an intent to address the apparent demise of the fisheries management function inside MPI.

Unfortunately, during the last three years, this policy has had little positive impact on recreational fisheries management.

In fact, this year alone has been unprecedented in terms of adverse impacts on South Island recreational fishing, given changes arising from the National Blue Cod Strategy, proposed Southeast MPAs and the Dolphin Threat Management Plan.   

In response to our 18 September request for the Labour Party’s policy on recreational fishing, we were referred to the Party’s Manifesto https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/nzlabour/pages/18765/attachments/original/1602555496/Labour_Manifesto.pdf?1602555496

The Manifesto’s only reference to recreational fishing is as follows: “Labour will continue to improve the sustainability of our fisheries sector where a range of environmental, recreational, tangata whenua and commercial interests can be upheld through an abundant fishery.”

This sole reference to recreational fishing is a far cry from the robust fisheries policy of 2017. As a comparison, here is an excerpt from that policy:

Improving local recreational fishing

For many years governments have put recreational fishing in the ‘too hard’ basket, with the result that the interests of recreational fishers have been poorly served by fisheries management decisions. This situation has disadvantaged recreational fishing interests when decisions are made at both the national and regional levels. We will establish improved representation of all recreational fishing interests at the national level to government and the industry. Improvements will also be made to the government working alongside existing fishing clubs and associations to advocate for finer-scale management of species that are highly valued by local recreational fishers (fishers in the Hauraki Gulf have different needs than those in Fiordland).  We will focus on recreational fishers working collectively with government, inshore commercial interests and other stakeholders to improve the recreational fishing experience while enhancing the sustainability of fish stocks.

Labour will: Work alongside the recreational fishing sector to design and implement improved representation of their concerns and priorities at both the national and regional levels and with the aim of improving the fishing experience for all New Zealanders now and for generations to come.