Baldock Larry: Fisheries Amendment Bill (No 2) — Second Reading 
Baldock Larry: Fisheries Amendment Bill (No 2) — Second Reading 
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LARRY BALDOCK (United Future) 
: 
 I rise to speak on behalf of United Future on the Fisheries Amendment Bill (No 2) and recall an earlier time—at least in my term in Parliament—when this issue although it goes back many many years began to arise in the House during the passage of a Statutes Amendment Bill. The previous Minister of Fisheries came down to the Chamber and gave his word that he would address the issues that had arisen in that statutes amendment legislation and that a full and final settlement would be worked out with the fishing industry. 
I commence my address today by commending him for bringing this bill to the House and for getting it to this stage in its passage. It is pleasing to see that the Minister kept to his word in that regard. There were protracted and complicated discussions with the industry and it is pleasing that he has arrived at some settlement. United Future also extends a vote of gratitude and thanks to all those who have worked hard towards this settlement. It has not been an easy thing to resolve. We have heard many issues raised by speakers here today and all of that adds weight to the fact that it has not been an easy process. There have been a lot of complicated issues to deal with. 
I wish to remark briefly upon two aspects of the bill that I believe are the most salient whose measures to amend are the most common-sense and will improve the lot of all New Zealanders who adhere to a code of fair play and preservation of our natural resources. The first is the move to validate and implement the settlement agreement between the Crown and the industry in respect of the under-recovery and over-recovery of costs. As I said we have heard a great deal on that issue. It has been a complicated one but it is one that is needed to follow due process. United Future is satisfied that the final product has been largely resolved to the satisfaction of most parties concerned. Some of the members may still have some concerns about small issues but in these sorts of matters it is necessary to arrive at a compromise that is addressing the concerns of most. 
This is an important issue which I am pleased has been addressed in a way worthy of this House. It corrects past inaccuracies and allows the fishing industry to move forward. United Future makes the point that it is important the fishing industry is able to move forward because it is vital to our nation’s economy. We believe that this bill is assisting in that process. 
United Future supports the recommended amendment to justify the rules that apply exclusively to the period covered by this settlement which brings finality to the historical levy orders. This will bring a benefit to the industry. We have always held that settlements should have sunset clauses whether they relate to the issues pertinent to this particular bill or to other aspects of the settlement in other areas that we are yet to deal with. 
The second aspect relates to a very small part of the bill but a very important part. It closes the legal loopholes involving illegally obtained seafood. In recent times that has related particularly to paua. This issue as it relates to this bill and as it relates to other areas is one that United Future feels very strongly about and seeks to remedy. This abuse and flagrant contempt of those who breach the law for the ill-gotten gain of one or a few at the expense of law-abiding citizens and the future of one of our greatest natural and economic resources is of grave concern to us as a party. We believe that if this practice is left unchecked it will undoubtedly spell trouble for us and for future generations. 
Many members of the public have seen the television programme  
Coastwatch 
 over recent weeks and it is beginning to raise a number of issues that New Zealanders are becoming concerned about. The programme just last week covered the issue of paua poaching and it showed how difficult it is for Ministry of Fisheries people to actually monitor and apprehend those who are making a very very lucrative profit from abusing our laws and regulations in this country. United Future believes that it is important that the Government begins to take seriously the need to expand our surveillance ability and our monitoring and enforcement ability on our coastal areas in this country because it is enabling at the moment the establishment of organised crime in a poaching syndicate that I believe should concern us all. 
We see organised crime in this country developing in the gangs in respect of the production of P whereby they are getting their hands on an incredible amount of money through that illegal trade. The same is possible and is actually occurring within this poaching of our seafood on the coastal areas of our nation. We believe that it is in the national interest that we should apply more resourcing in the absence of having a proper coastguard service which we believe would be a very excellent thing to look into. We need to see at least some more resources go towards the Ministry of Fisheries so that it may employ more people to monitor and enforce what are some very very good fisheries regulations and laws that need to be enforced otherwise they are accorded very little concern and people begin flagrantly to ignore them. 
This bill closes an illegal loophole that was allowing poachers to escape prosecution because of inaccurate legislative drafting. Zero tolerance is in order here and that should be applied to all. So we support the move to more clearly define the language as to the trade in illegally obtained seafood. 
United Future supports the objective and the principle of the bill as it now stands with Primary Production Committee recommendations included. We thank the select committee for the work it has done in listening to submitters and making some minor adjustments to the legislation. The end result will be of benefit to an industry in need of clear precise rules and regulations that apply to all and leave no people able to escape prosecution if they choose to breach the law whether or not they are ignorant of it. It allows the fishing industry to move on in the knowledge that past wrongs are righted and there is a measure of good faith between the Crown and the industry.