September 28, 2018
Hoki cuts will hit iwi income
Iwi income could be hit by a voluntary cut of 22 percent to the amount of West Coast hoki the deepwater fishing industry will catch in the new fishing year, beginning on October 1.
Iwi and fisheries settlement companies Moana NZ and Sealord own 40 percent of hoki quota.
Dion Tuuta from Te Ohu Kaimoana, which facilitated iwi discussions on the cut, says skippers of hoki trawlers reported reduced catches over the winter.
That contradicts the latest stock assessment and model projections, and questions were asked about whether it was the result of historically high winter sea temperatures in New Zealand’s southern waters.
The industry has asked the Ministry for Primary Industries to do a scientific assessment of the stock.
Mr Tuuta says both iwi and industry want a sustainable and abundant fish population, as their livelihoods depend upon sustainability.
Copyright © 2018, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com