Tag Archives: Official Information Act
‘Bewildered’ experts not on board for changes to fisheries management
The government’s proposed changes to New Zealand’s fisheries management mark the most substantial reforms in decades and have sparked debate over environmental oversight and public transparency. LegaSea, a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting and restoring the marine environment, is among those rocking the boat to halt the changes. “We are going back to the 80s, it’s neo-liberal behaviour, and if we are not careful, we will kill the goose that lays the golden egg.” The government proposed the changes last month, saying they want to streamline regulations, improve data collection, and enhance sustainability while protecting fishers’ privacy. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:20
Shane Jones: Cameras on fishing boats is ‘state surveillance’
Shane Jones cites the dangers that come with “the court of TikTok” as the reason he wants to keep footage collected on fishing boats out of the public’s hands. The Fisheries Minister is proposing a range of changes to the Fisheries Act to “remove unnecessary regulations that impede productivity and the potential of the sector”. One of the proposals aims to prevent the release of what’s filmed on commercial fishing vessels through the Official Information Act. Jones told Q+A he didn’t agree with having on-board cameras in the first place, but that he had lost that argument. “I do not accept state surveillance of industry,” he said. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:56
Leaked fishing camera report ‘sound’, top advisor said
The report, carried out by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), was leaked to Greenpeace in June. It raised doubts about whether camera technology on fishing boats would be much use in court as evidence of illegal fishing. MPI later called the report “misleading” and poor quality, and Mr Guy said scientists had binned it. But in emails released to the Green Party under the Official Information Act, a top science advisor described the report as “robust and sound”. The camera technology will be rolled out on all boats from October 2018. The minister’s spokesperson said they could be used to spot some fishing offences, and would have a strong deterrent effect. click here to read the story 11:09
