On-board cameras for commercial fishing boats that encounter rare Māui dolphins

Friday, 7 June 2019

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash in June 2019 announced on-board cameras on commercial fishing boats to protect Māui dolphins.

Commercial fishing vessels deemed at risk of encountering endangered Māui dolphins will be required to operate with on-board cameras, the prime minister has announced.

Jacinda Ardern said just over $17 million had been set aside in the Budget for the purchase, installation and maintenance of the cameras, which will be required from November 1.

The new camera requirement will be installed on 28 of the more than 1000 commercial fishing boats in the country.

Māui dolphins have a distinctive rounded fin.

Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash said it was planned for cameras to eventually be installed on all vessels, but would not be drawn on when that will happen.

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Jacinda Ardern said just over $17 million had been set aside in the Budget for the purchase, installation and maintenance of the cameras.

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'This is a start. There are two or three phases we have to go through before we end up in that place,' Nash said.

Asked why the fishing industry isn't covering any of the cost of the cameras, Ardern said: 'This is an initial roll-out.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash announce on-board cameras on commercial fishing boats.

'There is still work underway around the technology that will be used, and further work on specification; one way that we can move very quickly is having the Government support that initial roll-out.'

The Department of Conservation estimates there are just 63 Māui dolphins over one year old left in New Zealand.

A number of steps have been taken to help protect them in recent years, including a ban on set netting and trawling along part of the North Island's west coast, and more stringent controls over mining.

But Forest and Bird's CEO Kevin Hague described Friday's announcement as a 'major backdown' to the fishing industry.

'If we want to save [Māui dolphins], counting bodies on boats is too late,' Hague said.

'We need to stop dangerous set netting and trawling in their habitat, not put cameras on boats that mostly already have MPI staff on them.'

Meanwhile, WWF-New Zealand CEO Livia Esterhazy welcomed the move.

'This is a great first step to protect Aotearoa's native species but it is only a first step,' Esterhazy said.

'We believe cameras on every vessel will not only reduce accidental by-catch but will also ensure accountability leading to a sustainable seafood industry.'