Coronavirus: Relief for crayfish fishers welcomed, but it falls short

Tuesday, 3 March 2020

The price of crayfish has plummeted from $100 a kilo to $35, says fisher Richard Kibblewhite.

Lobters fishers hit by the fallout from the coronavirus outbreak say they are 'bitterly disappointed' at the Government's aid package.

Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash announced on Tuesday that lobster fishers would be allowed to carry forward to next year 10 per cent of uncaught quotas.

'The Covid-19 outbreak means the market for New Zealand rock lobster in China has temporarily collapsed. These are exceptional circumstances and require an urgent response. The government's decision enables some financial relief for the industry,' Nash said.

But despite providing certainty, Rock Lobster Industry Council chief executive Mark Edwards said this would still leave many fishers 'bitterly disappointed'.

A large number of quota holders would have to forfeit remaining entitlements that had already been paid for.

* Uncertain future for crayfish unable to be exported due to coronavirus

* Coronavirus halts New Zealand rock lobster exports to China**

Exports of live rock lobsters from New Zealand to China ground to a halt after coronavirus hit.

Over 290 tonnes of unused entitlements worth $34 million in exports would be lost, he said.

The next fishing year starts on April 1.

Fisher and quota holder Richard Kibblewhite said the majority of fishers would be 'thrilled' and 'grateful' for the aid package.

'It's a critical decision for the rock lobster industry and one that some might say is common sense. However, there are going to be a lot of financially hurt fishers and it doesn't go all the way to resolving the issues,' he said.

The number of Covid-19 coronavirus deaths worldwide is now more than 3000 with more than 90 per cent in Hubei, China.

Export prices for rock lobster had plummeted from $100 a kilogram to just $35, he said.

New Zealand's commercial crayfish catch is about 2750 tonnes a year. The industry is worth around $320 million a year and directly and indirectly employs 2500 people.

In particular, fishers that had leased quota from quota holders would be badly affected because they could not carry it over, despite having already paid for it. The quota holder would get it again next year anyway, Kibblewhite said.

Richard Kibblewhite says he is grateful for the Government relief but many fishers will fall through the cracks.

A medium size business turning over $300,000 a year would face equivalent losses next year, he said.

The virus hit at the peak of the season, which was Chinese New Year. Fishers generally save an amount of their quota for when prices peak to be efficient with their catching.

'People are going broke. There's boats on the market, there's people considering getting out of the game. People are looking for other jobs,' he said.

Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash has allowed fishers to carry-forwrad 10 per cent of the yearly crayfish quota to give greater certainty.

Last month Nash agreed live crayfish could be released back into the wild after export orders were cancelled and the industry asked for help.

Fishers then asked to carry forward some of the annual catch entitlement and a targeted public consultation was undertaken. The Government received 370 submissions.

Submissions were split but commercial interests wanted 100 per cent carry-forward, Nash said in a statement.

Non-commercial groups favoured no change, while Maori organisations generally favoured a 10 per cent carry-forward, he said.

'I agreed with the 10 per cent carry-forward, as it is in line with previous decisions about other fish stocks in the quota management system.

'It is estimated about 120 tonnes of rock lobster annual catch entitlement could be carried forward to the next fishing year. The industry can now release rock lobster back into the wild, subject to biosecurity and survivability criteria. It will be available for later harvests and allow the industry to recover some of its anticipated income from the lost orders.'

Edwards said the losses would see small fishers unable to service debt, and some risked losing their vessels and property.

He questioned the rationale for the decision and said carrying forward entitlements would not increase the number of lobsters removed from fisheries.

'It just allows this year's unused catch entitlement to be used next year.'

Tasmania and Victoria in Australia had provided full carry-forwards of uncaught quotas for their rock lobster industries.