4. Question No. 4—Oceans and FisheriesHon EUGENIE SAGE (Green) to the Minister for Oceans and FisheriesQuestion No. 4—Oceans and Fisheries4. Hon EUGENIE SAGE (Green) to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: Does he believe that allowing bottom trawling on seamounts deep-sea corals and other vulnerable marine ecosystems is consistent with the 2006 United Nations Resolution 61/105 which calls on States to take action immediately … to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems … from destructive fishing practices"; if so why?Hon KRIS FAAFOI (Minister of Justice) on behalf of the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: This Government opposes destructive and unsustainable fishing methods that harm vulnerable marine habitats. I note the member uses a partial quote omitting that the UN resolution also calls upon States to follow the 2008 international guidelines for the management of deep-sea fisheries in the high seas. These guidelines set out a framework for data collection assessments and monitoring control and surveillance to prevent significant adverse impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems which is what this Government is doing.Hon Eugenie Sage: Will the Government consider following Chile's 2015 example of banning bottom trawling on all 117 seamounts in its jurisdiction and Chile's 2017 example of banning bottom trawling in 98 percent of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ)?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: I think it's important that we have some context to this. More than a third of New Zealand waters are completely closed to bottom trawling and dredging. Benthic protection areas also protect large areas of mostly pristine marine environment from trawling and dredging and scientists have calculated that more than 90 percent of New Zealand's EEZ has not been bottom trawled since detailed position data began to be recorded in the early 1990s. The Minister also awaits with interest the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor's report on fisheries to further inform Government actions on this and other matters.Hon Eugenie Sage: When does the Minister expect to be in a position to address what he described while receiving a petition signed by more than 50000 people as—and I quote—"legitimate concerns about the adverse environmental effects of bottom trawling"?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: As I mentioned the Minister awaits the advice from the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor which will help inform Government's future actions. We expect to have that report in the next few months.Hon Eugenie Sage: Does the Minister agree with the view of the Ministry for Primary Industries that a New Zealand deep-sea trawler moving on after accidentally destroying coral and sea sponges represents sustainable management in action as reported by Radio New Zealand in January and if not why not?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: If that is in reference to a case that is before the courts it would be inappropriate for me to comment.Hon Eugenie Sage: Why did the Ministry for Primary Industries not release further information to the public about this incident of destructive bottom trawling at the time it occurred in December?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: The Minister is aware of that incident and he has asked the fisheries officials to make sure that those NGOs get that information promptly.Hon Eugenie Sage: Is the Minister concerned that according to the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition the New Zealand bottom trawl fishery for orange roughy in the South Pacific has had—and I quote—"the highest bycatch of deep-water vulnerable marine ecosystem indicator species reported in high-seas fisheries worldwide over the past 12 years" and if so why does the Government continue to allow this destruction of deep-sea coral sponges and other vulnerable marine species?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: New Zealand's proposal regarding orange roughy in the Tasman Sea is based on an assessment of the Scientific Committee of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO). This committee has representation across member countries and takes into account the best available scientific information on a range of factors including potential effects on the fish stock and environment. The SPRFMO catch limits are increased and decreased in response to that and are set with the best available information.Hon Eugenie Sage: Point of order Mr Speaker. I seek leave to table a report dated October 2020 by the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition entitled Preventing biodiversity loss in the deep sea.SPEAKER: I'm just going to seek the member's assurance it's not a document that is available on the internet?Hon Eugenie Sage: I was sent the link.SPEAKER: Sorry?Hon Eugenie Sage: It may be.SPEAKER: Right well in that case I'm not going to put it to the House."