Redmayne SuzeSUZE REDMAYNE (National—Rangitīkei): I rise in support of the Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. This bill is about getting New Zealand back on track and firmly establishing New Zealand as a world leader in combatting illegal unreported and unregulated fishing. It's about protecting our deepwater fisheries industry which contributes $2.7 billion a year to the New Zealand economy $1.6 billion to GDP and employs almost 8500 people. And it's about being a good neighbour and a trusted and responsible global trading partner.This bill updates our permitting regime and ensures New Zealand vessels can continue to access valuable international fisheries. It also ensures we meet our international obligations which have evolved since our international fisheries management and compliance regime was established in 1999 especially in relation to the prevention of illegal unreported and unregulated fishing. This bill strengthens the powers of high-seas fishing inspectors to investigate offending by foreign-flagged and even Stateless vessels and it makes it an offence to operate engage with or assist a vessel recorded as having engaged in illegal unreported or unregulated fishing. This bill protects our access to lucrative fisheries in the Pacific and Southern Ocean by making sure we comply with our obligations.As a country we're committed to being a world leader in the sustainable management of fisheries and that includes in our neighbouring international waters. It's worth noting that the Ministry for Primary Industries reported in September 2023 that as part of the special annual mission called Operation Nasse fisheries compliance officers from New Zealand Australia Fiji France and the United States detected nearly 40 alleged breaches of high-seas rules during a major South Pacific patrol. Operation Nasse covered a vast area from the Tasman Sea eastwards to the south of the Cook Islands. It involved three weeks of sea and air surveillance with the main aim being to combat illegal unreported and unregulated fishing throughout the South Pacific Ocean.Illegal fishing practices seriously undermine sustainable fisheries management and are estimated to cost the Pacific region millions of dollars in lost revenue every year. They threaten food security and create an unfair playing field for legitimate commercial fishers. As part of Operation Nasse an international team boarded and inspected more than 20 vessels at sea along with monitoring the movements of 120 other vessels during their air surveillance work. Fiji participated for the first time last year. Together they found 38 breaches from non-compliant seabird mitigation gear being deployed to incorrect flags being displayed failure to provide vessel monitoring data maritime pollution and poor handling of sharks and stingrays. Operation Nasse was also significant as it was the first time the Royal New Zealand Air Force's new Poseidon P-8A aircraft had been deployed and it was from Ōhākea in the mighty Rangitīkei. The crew were able to provide valuable information on the activities of fishing vessels during their patrols.It is an uncomfortable truth: illegal unreported and unregulated fishing destroys livelihoods and it decimates the sustainability of our fishing resources. More broadly it undermines regional security. It is critical we continue to protect marine resources from those who believe the rules don't apply to them. Bringing Pacific Island nations to the forefront of these patrols to gain experience is something we want to continue. Pacific Island nations and their communities stand to lose economically because of illegal fishing on the high seas and we're behind them all the way. This bill is all about protecting our fishing industry and our international reputation. It's about getting New Zealand back on track. It's about being good neighbours to our friends across the Pacific whose lives and heritage are intrinsically linked to the sea just like us. We're farmers we're traders and we're fishers. We need this bill to help us futureproof our industry.