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Commercial fishing boat - Source: ONE News -
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Maori have been warned by the Government about the way they are using ageing foreign charter fishing boats to catch their Treaty of Waitangi quotas.
"Maori are in a unique position to lead the debate on the use of foreign fishing vessels as they are big users," Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley told the Maori fisheries Conference in Nelson.
He said the foreign charter vessels (FCVs) were "well past their use-by-date".
His warning followed reports which revealed Maori deep-sea fishing, once touted as an economic saviour for Maori, now depends on Asian and Ukrainian FCVs where conditions are akin to sweatshops.
Government attempts to moderate the use of FCVs has been resisted by some iwi, which say without them they cannot fish.
Iwi rent out their quota to operators who use FCVs with most of the catch shipped to China for processing.
The around 2500 men who work them are from poor Third World areas, are beaten and forced to work for days without rest, earning between $260 and $460 a month.
Conditions came into focus following last August's sinking of the 38-year-old FCV Oyang 70, followed four months later when the 31-year-old No 1 Insung, operating out of Bluff, sank in the Ross Sea with the loss of 22 men.
In ad lib remarks at the conference, Heatley, admitted for the first time that there is a problem.
"On one hand, complete 'no-use' of foreign crew may seriously devalue your quota especially if the New Zealand fleet is unable to sustainably catch all the available fish, leaving valuable New Zealand exports in the water."
This would drive down New Zealand export earnings, and the price of the "annual catch entitlement" Maori received.
"On the other hand, many of your youth who do not have jobs could very well be fishing.
"This cannot be ignored. You need to identify where the right balance is, you need to think this through."
Heatley said this year the total fish quota is valued at more than $4 billion, with Maori controlling 37% of it, as a result of a 1992 Deed of Settlement with the government reached in treaty settlements.
He said there was a growing global demand for sustainably fished and independently verified seafood.
"Maori-owned companies are in an especially good place to take advantage of this demand.
"What's good for Maori businesses is good for New Zealand businesses and collaboration and innovation are key to economic success."
Last month Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples said it "would not be appropriate for the government to interfere in their decision-making" over the use of FCVs.
But he said Maori landowners "try to balance commercial, social and cultural imperatives in the way they manage their lands."
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