March 29, 2019
Subsistence fisheries first priority
A Māori conservationist wants to see more support from the Māori commercial fishing sector for the efforts of Māori subsistence and commercial fishers to protect their environment.
Tina Ngata spoke to this week’s Māori Fisheries Conference on the dangers of plastic pollution in rivers and seas.
She says she was impressed with the focus of the conference on issues like sustainability and climate change and the willingness of the industry to change.
She wants to see more engagement between the Māori commercial sector and hapū.
"If you’re not supporting subsistence lifestyles and customary practices, traditional fishing practices which our communities directly rely on, I don't care how sustainable you think your commercial fishery is, you will never be as sustainable or important as our subsistence communities. If you are not supporting that you are colonising us, regardless of your indigineity," Ms Ngata says.
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