Wedd CatherineCATHERINE WEDD (National—Tukituki): Well it's a great pleasure to rise in this debate. I would like to also acknowledge the former committee for this inquiry and obviously for hearing from a lot of submitters around this very important issue of illegal unregulated unrecorded (IUU) fishing which is an ongoing issue and a huge responsibility for New Zealand with its responsibility that it also has in the Pacific to ensure that we uphold integrity and confidence in our fishing industries which of course is a very important export industry not only to New Zealand but across the Pacific. And we certainly need to protect this huge seafood export industry and work together with our Pacific neighbours. And in Hawke's Bay we have a significant seafood-export industry. So I know personally how valuable that is and how important it is that we protect this food production as well.But the report with its 12 recommendations is greatly welcomed. It highlighted some serious concerns around illegal unregulated fishing. And of course our Government is committed to a strong framework against illegal fishing. So this report is certainly welcomed to ensuring that we improve our response across the Pacific and continue this work to combat illegal unregulated fishing because illegal fishing threatens New Zealand's interests in the Southern and Pacific oceans and disadvantages our $2 billion seafood-export industry. And it's important that we are world leaders in the sustainable management of fisheries including our neighbouring international waters as the members around the House have already alluded to.And this reputation is of course very beneficial and essential for our export industry and a big part of New Zealand Inc. as well in ensuring that we add as much value to our products because illegal fishing undercuts our operators reduces their profitability distorts market competition and challenges the future availability of fishery resources.And on this side of the House we're really driven to double the value of our exports in 10 years and the seafood exports will certainly play a large role in this. In reading this report it was positive to see the collaboration with our Pacific nations on this very important issue. The inquiry confirmed that IUU fishing is a shared global concern and international responsibility was acknowledged within this report. It was mentioned that goal 14 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans seas and marine resources for sustainable development. And within this goal it aims to end IUU fishing. The report confirmed concerns that IUU fishing operations have connections with other forms of illegal maritime activities including people and drug smuggling and poor labour conditions. Of course these are all concerns as well.The committee I understand was told there is a lack of traceability of IUU fish in the supply chain which distorts markets of course which the member earlier alluded to as well. I was particularly interested in reading what other countries are doing in relation to IUU fishing. In this report it was heard that the European Union aims to have no fish from IUU fishing on the EU market whether caught within its own waters or imported from other parts of the world.And the committee was also told that one of Japan's five priorities for regional cooperation is sustainable oceans based on the rule of law. The Australian High Commissioner noted the commitment of New Zealand and Australia to active partnership in support of Pacific priorities including fisheries management. And the committee was also told that taking action on IUU fishing is a goal of the UK's Maritime Security Strategy and it was agreed that effective regional cooperation is vital to combating IUU fishing.I just thought it was interesting here because I just wanted to give a shout out to the New Zealand Defence Force because they've been particularly active in patrolling many of the waters. I've got a stat here of 21.3 million square kilometres that have been patrolled and these pockets include the oceans around the Cook Islands Fiji Kiribati Niue—there's many many—so there's a lot of work going on in this space which is very good.