Kia ora Friend,
The Fisheries Amendment Bill heads to its first reading TOMORROW 31 March.
The purpose of the Bill is set out on page one, "to grow the value of seafood sector exports while continuing to ensure sustainability." It's clear the Bill prioritises seafood exports. That means everything else becomes an afterthought - the fish, the environment and our ability to put kaimoana on the dinner table. If you think killing baby snapper is bad, there are many other elements of the Bill that will have far-reaching economic and environmental impacts for New Zealand.
We need your help. If you've been thinking about stepping up as a Works Partner or throwing in a donation, now's the moment. Because this won't be a quick fight, nor will it be a cheap one.
Keep reading to learn more about what's at stake and how you can help Kill the Bill. |
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The Fisheries Amendment Bill goes to its first reading tomorrow. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has stated that the provision allowing commercial operators to land and sell undersized fish has been deleted. If so, that's a political move.
The real danger lies in some of the remaining clauses that hide camera footage from public view, restrict public input into decisions, and only allow 20 working days to mount a legal challenge against ministerial decisions. That's a whopper change to our constitutional rights.
The Bill is being promoted as a way to increase seafood export value, but conflicts with the Fisheries Act which prioritises sustainability above all else. This new Bill shifts the focus away from sustainable management of a public resource towards private commercial gain. The Bill will: -
Remove environmental safeguards, allowing the Minister to set catch limits without considering the wider consequences of fishing on the marine environment and other species.
- Prioritise exporting and exploiting our fish. Kiwis will be left with the leftovers and a degraded marine environment.
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Shut the public out of having a say in changes to catch limits, passing more decision-making power to commercial operators.
- Prioritise short-term commercial interests ahead of rebuilding fish stocks and protecting the wider marine environment.
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More fish thrown overboard. Relax the rules to allow for more dead, dying fish to be legally dumped overboard. Including juvenile fish. Further entrenching the use of indiscriminate, bulk harvesting fishing methods
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Subsidise commercial operators so they can continue current practices, including trawling and dredging, while depleting a public resource.
- Reduce transparency and public oversight, restricting public access to onboard camera footage.
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Remove minimum size limits for certain species on commercial boats. Allowing commercial operators to keep and sell baby fish before they've had the chance to reproduce. *The Bill has not yet been amended to reflect the Prime Minister's statement.
We say this Bill must go back to Cabinet for reconsideration.
If this whole process doesn't sit right with you, then now's the time to act. Contact your local MP and urge them to vote the Fisheries Amendment Bill down at its first reading.
Tomorrow we'll be watching the first reading and will be sharing all the reactions, speeches and voting with you all. Stay tuned! |
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We need you more than ever |
We are facing a fight like none other before it. We can not allow the Fisheries Amendment Bill to become law. The consequences are frightening for our fish, us and for future generations.
To keep up the fight we need money. We can't do much without it. So please consider a donation, or better yet, come aboard as a WORKS PARTNER! Tomorrow is the end of the financial year and its the best time to become a Works Partner. That's because you can claim your sponsorship fee as a legitimate business expense, which will reduce your tax bill.
What's more, as a token of our appreciation, you will receive:
- A beautifully framed, signed and numbered print from artist and designer, Ian Wills. - A $50 voucher from our good mates at Marine Deals. You will also get to feel the satisfaction that you played your part in the fight to protect our fisheries.
Stand up now and become a Works Partner! |
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Quick Facts about the first reading of the Fisheries Amendment Bill |
🏛 When is the Fisheries Amendment Bill scheduled for its First Reading?
The Bill is scheduled to have its first reading in Parliament TOMORROW 31 March 2026. We believe it will be read around 5PM. You can watch it live through this link. |
🏛 What happens if the Fisheries Amendment Bill passes its First Reading? If a majority of MPs agree to proceed with the Amendment Bill, it will be referred to a Select Committee. By that stage, the opportunity for meaningful change is often limited. This is why it's critical that MPs stop the Bill at its First Reading |
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The long swim is almost over |
Photo by Joshua McCormack, Live Ocean
If you're in Wellington this week, come and welcome Jono Ridler as he brings his epic swim to a close. He set off from Waikuku Beach at North Cape, right at the top of the country, and has been working his way down the entire east coast to Wellington.
This has been a three-month grind to shine a light on the damage caused by bottom trawling and the need to do better for our oceans.
As soon as he hits the shore, he'll be walking straight to Parliament to deliver a simple message to the Government: end bottom trawling. You can track his progress here. His arrival is weather-dependent, but he's now just 111 km out and closing in, with landfall expected within the next week.
If you can't be there in person, you can still be part of it. Sign the LiveOcean petition and help push it past 50,000 signatures so that the message lands even harder. Earliest projected arrival: Thursday, 2 April, Central Wellington waterfront.
This walk to Parliament is the final leg of the Swim4TheOcean journey, taking the call for change straight to decision makers. Go hard Jono! |
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