Ardern Shane: Fisheries Amendment Bill (No 3) — First Reading 
Ardern Shane: Fisheries Amendment Bill (No 3) — First Reading 
[Volume:616;Page:12396] 
SHANE ARDERN (National—Taranaki - King Country) 
: 
 I rise on behalf of the National Party also in support of the Fisheries Amendment Bill (No 3). There are a number of reasons why the National Party supports this bill but mainly because it sets up a sustainable management programme through the quota management system for an industry that has grown to export earnings now of somewhere between $1 billion and $1.5 billion employs some 25000 to 30000 New Zealanders and is a major export industry in this country. 
But the National Party will not support the notion that the Primary Production Committee should meet on Fridays. The reason for that is quite simple: a number of the members of the Primary Production Committee who have knowledge of this bill are also on a special select committee that the Government has set up to look at the Maori Fisheries Bill that it would appear is running simultaneously with this bill. So National will not support that. 
Also given that the Government knew that there was a certain amount of urgency around the implementation of the scampi quota the question has to be asked why this bill has sat on the Order Paper even through an urgency motion when a whole lot of “rats and mice” stuff has been debated in the House that is of no particular interest to the economy—or for that matter and on particular occasions to anybody else in New Zealand. This very important legislation has been allowed to languish and not be put through its proper process. 
I know that the Primary Production Committee which is chaired by the very capable Hon David Carter will give this legislation the proper scrutiny it needs. I know that those listening to the debate who want to make submissions—and who will be notified through the select committee process—will come in and do so. The problem is that the committee will be working to a very tight time frame given that the report back date for the scampi part of the bill—which has to be reported back earlier than the rest—is 22 July. 
Given the industry’s size and importance to the economy I sincerely hope that the Government will give those people who have a major interest in it the proper time and respect they deserve because I am sure they will have some concerns to raise during the select committee process. Up until now there has been no evidence of that time and respect being given in any process the Government has gone through with regard to major legislation such as this so I am pleading with the Government to give them that recognition. 
This bill substantially alters the 1996 Fisheries Act which has become outdated. The history of the fishing industry in New Zealand has been a process of evolution. The quota management system has at times come under severe attack from many people who have been outside of it or who have not been in a position either financially or physically to benefit from the structure in place. The historic grievances that exist and will continue to exist around the way that that system has enabled people to have a bigger chunk of the quota are I guess something that Governments will struggle with for years to come. The reality is that this bill tries to address some of those issues and for that reason it is a very good move. 
I see a number of Ministers here and perhaps one will take a call to inform the House why given that the scampi report back on 22 July is urgent—and we know the reasons for that—the final report back is set down for 27 July. Why is there not a bigger gap between the two report-back dates given that the scampi part of the legislation because of its importance will obviously take up a large chunk of the select committee’s time? The Primary Production Committee has already gone through a huge inquiry in that regard. 
At this stage the Government has not told us what it will do in response to the report back on that scampi requirement. It would be interesting to see—either in the select committee or at some stage during the debates in the House—a Minister take a call to tell us what the Government intends to do with that issue with regard to this legislation. 
The bill will create a transitional list of fish species that will enter the quota management system. Under the current system we have a handover quota based on catch history going back to 1990-1992. That is an excellent provision. It will provide for non-established commercial species to enter the quota management system as technology and food tastes around the world alter and as new species can be harvested and exported. It takes into account the issues around migratory fish—in particular tuna. That fishery has an interesting history. The select committee process will I hope tease out some of the difficulties concerning tuna in the bill. Some of them have already been raised by my good colleague Gerry Eckhoff. 
The West Coast of the South Island is probably the area where the catch history of tuna is best established and yet catching tuna there will be now quite difficult given that the quota is exhausted. I think that is mainly because of modern technology better equipment electronic “gizzardry” and the like. That technology—I hasten to add—is now used by nations other than New Zealand to as one speaker suggested exhaust or even plunder the fishery before it reaches New Zealand waters. It will be interesting to see how the select committee deals with that and what comes forward in the way of submissions in relation to it. 
As I have said the bill legislates to include scampi in the quota management system from 1 October which obviously will be a very beneficial tool in terms of managing that fishery. Equally that fishery may have been overfished or is not being properly investigated and after the select committee has a look at the submissions there may be a need to adjust our thinking around quota management. 
The bill also brings a much more overarching approach to the sustainable management of fisheries in general and that has to be a very positive thing. I know that the fishing industry itself is keen to see some of those changes and for that reason and in light of the fact that it is a major export industry for New Zealand I ask the Government to give those people consideration. I suggest to members that the Primary Production Committee has the right people to make sure that those changes are taken into account.