May 22, 2019
Fish net replacement gets ministry sign off
New fishing technology backed by an industry consortium including prominent Māori-owned companies has got the green light from Fisheries New Zealand.
Precision Seafood Harvesting, also known as the Modular Harvest System, involves the fish being caught in a water-filled tube that allows catch to be brought on deck in better condition and bycatch or undersized catch to be released alive.
The technology, based on science form Plant and Food Research, was approved for use for snapper, tarakihi, trevally, red gurnard, and john dory in the North Island inshore fisheries.
Moana New Zealand chief executive Steve Tarrants says it’s important the iwi-owned company’s contract fishers use best practice fishing methods that respect the values of kaitiakitanga and whakatipuranga and foster healthy fish stocks.
There are 10 Moana and Sanford in-shore vessels trialling the technology under a special permit.
They will now transition to using it full-time and additional vessels will take up the technology.
Copyright © 2019, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com