Category: New Zealand Government – Business

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries – Headline: Multi-agency fisheries operation proves invaluable in uncovering non-compliance

A multi-agency fisheries compliance operation along the North Island’s east coast has uncovered a range of offending including non-reporting of commercial crayfish.

The Ministry for Primary Industries-led operation involved resources and personnel from the New Zealand Police and the National Maritime Coordination Centre (NMCC) and focused on at-sea inspections of recreational and commercial vessels within the coastal waters of New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). 

The patrol also covered six marine reserves in the area.

MPI Chief Compliance Officer for Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa, Brent Smith, says the operation covered a large area of coast around the North Island including some isolated and remote areas that are usually difficult to reach by normal patrol methods.

“The operation was a good opportunity to check compliance of both recreational and commercial vessels fishing in the area over the summer period,” Mr Smith says.

“More than 150 commercial and recreational vessels were inspected during the patrol, and approximately 300 people, including divers, were spoken to.

“We detected a small number of alleged offences including one incident of unreported crayfish by a commercial vessel in the Coromandel and undersized fin fish on an amateur fishing charter vessel.

“Follow-up action is being taken by MPI.

“The level of non-compliance was very good overall and it was great to see that the majority of people were doing the right thing.

“Joint operations like this with the Auckland Police Maritime Unit are an invaluable way in which to raise compliance levels. The fact we’re out there together sends a very strong message that any incidents of non-compliance will be taken very seriously and those who are caught offending will attract the relevant penalties.

“This ultimately supports sustainable fisheries management, which is the aim of these patrols,” says Mr Smith.

Mr Smith says ensuring and promoting sustainable fisheries is a collective responsibility and MPI encourages people to report poaching or illegal activity by:

• calling 0800 4 POACHER (0800 47 62 24)
• emailing poacher@mpi.govt.nz

Useful information to report includes:

• the location
• description of the person
• vehicle or trailer registration number.

All information is treated as confidential.

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries – Headline: New Zealand pork granted access to Australia

New Zealand pork and pork products will soon be served up on dining tables in Australia, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) announced today.

Access and certification for New Zealand pork exports into Australia has been agreed by MPI and Australia’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. Department officials visited New Zealand to gain a good understanding of our systems, followed by a series of negotiations and close engagement by officials.

Access has been granted for uncooked New Zealand pork meat and products containing New Zealand pork.  Uncooked pork meat will, however, require further processing once it arrives into Australia.

Pork exports to Australia can start immediately.

“New Zealand has a very strong meat regulatory system, which is held in high regard by our trading partners,” says Jarred Mair, MPI’s deputy director-general policy and trade.

“These have helped towards enabling access to Australia for our pork and pork products.

“We appreciate and would like to acknowledge the support of the New Zealand pork industry in reaching this milestone.”

New Zealand’s pork exports are currently limited to a small number of markets, such as the Pacific Islands and Singapore.  In the year to 30 June 2017, New Zealand exported about 173 tonnes of pork in total valued at around $1 million.

New Zealand Pork Chairman Ian Carter says access to Australia for New Zealand pork will provide a positive boost for New Zealand’s pork industry.

“Commercial pig farmers in New Zealand are passionate about the care and expertise they invest in farming their pigs,” says Ian Carter. 

“We see the granting of access to Australia as an important formative step to explore export markets that value the qualities associated with pork and pork products produced from pigs born and raised in New Zealand, backed by PigCare™ – the industry’s independently managed animal welfare assurance programme – and the sector’s world-leading high health status. 

“We are grateful for MPI’s support in facilitating this first step,” says Mr Carter.

“Australia is already a very important market for New Zealand’s primary products,” says Mr Mair.

“We’re pleased to be able to add pork and pork products to the list.”

For more information, contact:

Ian Carter, New Zealand Pork Chairman 
carteri@xtra.co.nz or 027 420 0026