fisheries Archive

  • Gareth Hughes

    Bottom trawling for excuses: how low can they go? - by Gareth Hughes



    Yesterday’s paper brought back a flood of memories when I was rather surprised to see a photograph of myself in the NZ Herald. This photo from 2005 was in the paper because Peter Bodeker, chief executive of the Seafood Industry Council, had written an industry opinion piece defending the most destructive fishing practise used in [...] read more
    October 26, 2010 8:40 am - 11 Comments
  • frog

    Fish industry uses net to catch hoki criticism - by frog



    To the surprise of conservationists, in 2001 the New Zealand hoki fishery was recognised as a sustainably managed fishery by the Marine Stewardship Council. Yet conservationists have continually raised concerns over how the fishery could possibly be sustainable when bycatch rates of NZ fur seals and seabirds are so high and the bottom trawling equipment [...] read more
    December 12, 2009 10:05 am - 9 Comments
  • frog

    Smart hook – smart economics - by frog



    Fisher-turned-inventor Hans Jussiet explains the shield and dissolvable pin that covers baited-hooks as they are launched in this video from an ABC TVshow. Once the shielded hook sinks below the depth of seabirds and turtles, the pin dissolves and the shield is released. [Video included] read more
    November 5, 2009 9:20 pm - 5 Comments
  • frog

    Vote for a sustainable ocean: buy the best fish - by frog



    Forest and Bird has issued an update of its popular, and very useful, Best Fish Guide. The guide takes into account the state of fish stocks, the amount of seabird, marine mammal and non-target fish bycatch, the damage done to marine habitats and other ecological effects caused by the fishing to decide on its rating. [...] read more
    November 3, 2009 10:02 am - 9 Comments
  • frog

    Wild irony in fish advert - by frog



    This advert is on prominent display at Wellington airport. It’s similar to one I noted last year. The Talley boys’ colourful political views are quite well known, and they are hardly the poster-boys for sustainable wild fishing. For example, this insightful analogy for bottom-trawling – a practice that has caused UK supermarket Waitrose to destock [...] read more
    July 22, 2009 7:00 am - 20 Comments
  • frog

    Greenpeace’s new fishing video - by frog



    This new vid from Greenpeace features TV fishing personality and extreme stunt fisherman Matt Watson talks about fishing and sustainability, echoing what Metiria Turei wrote on World Oceans Day. read more
    June 23, 2009 3:03 pm - 2 Comments
  • Metiria Turei

    It’s not the fishing; it’s how we’re fishing - by Metiria Turei



    Dolphin down: it’s not a good look for our international reputation or our tourism industry, let alone our most iconic dolphin. DOC notified on Friday that another Hector’s dolphin has been killed by a commercial fishing vessel with an observer on board: H182/09 – A Hector’s dolphin capture was reported from a commercial fishing vessel [...] read more
    June 15, 2009 4:37 pm - 29 Comments
  • Metiria Turei

    Our Ocean – the Heart of the Earth - by Metiria Turei



    Today is World Oceans Day.  A staggering 80 percent of all the life on Earth is hidden beneath the waves. The ocean is the planet’s heart. Its pulsating currents and tides drive the natural forces which maintain life on our planet. It controls our weather, cleans our atmosphere, and is the original source of life-giving [...] read more
    June 8, 2009 1:42 pm - 14 Comments
  • frog

    Battered Jellyfish and Chips? - by frog



    This week, the Fishing Industry announced it was seeking Marine Stewardship Council certification for five NZ fisheries. The Government endorsed the move, saying the “eco-label will be further endorsement of New Zealand’s careful fisheries management”. The Greens would love all of NZ’s fisheries to be MSC-certified, if only the “careful fisheries management” was a true [...] read more
    May 9, 2009 12:09 pm - 8 Comments
  • frog

    A letter in a bottle[nose dolphin] - by frog



    This great letter appears in the April issue of Seafood New Zealand magazine. I’ll let it speak for itself: Dear Editor Well, the dolphin observer program has come to an end and, might I hazard to say, with some very positive results. Our worst fears of being landed with some hairy armpit, tattooed Green who [...] read more
    April 25, 2009 7:42 am - 15 Comments
  • frog

    Some questions to end Seaweek… - by frog



    To end our Seaweek coverage on Frogblog, here’s some Questions for Written Answer that Green Fisheries spokesmermaid Metiria Turei lodged this week to the Minister of Fisheries. No doubt the Ministry of Fisheries is in the gun for cost cutting, restructuring and major legislation review, but the Government isn’t saying much yet. Fairfax papers recently [...] read more
    March 6, 2009 4:40 pm - 1 Comment
  • Metiria Turei

    Continue fishing? Avoid killing seabirds - by Metiria Turei



    Seaweek provides a chance to reflect on the precarious situation of sealife above the waves – our endangered seabirds. They still die in unacceptable numbers as fishing bycatch. In New Zealand waters, up to 10,000 albatross and petrels drown on tuna long lines each year. An inspiring story from South Africa last week pointed to an [...] read more
    March 3, 2009 11:52 am - 4 Comments
  • frog

    It’s Seaweek! - by frog



    This week is Seaweek – when we both celebrate our ocean diversity and, hopefully, get serious about the immense threats that persist. In the sub-Antarctic islands we have a large marine reserve with amazing endemic species like Campbell Island teal (the world’s rarest duck) and Hooker’s Sealions. Dozens if not hundreds of the latter are [...] read more
    March 2, 2009 9:46 am - No Comments
  • frog

    Carbon fin prints - by frog



    Jeanette’s question this afternoon on the Government’s claim to be the first carbon neutral country in the world resulted in the usual banter with the Michael Cullen, who was answering on behalf of the Prime Minister. Even National’s Nick Smith got in on the game, asking much the same as what many Green supporters have [...] read more
    May 29, 2008 9:15 pm - 17 Comments
  • frog

    Two questions in Parliament from Jeanette today - by frog



    It’s not often the Greens get allotted two questions in one day at Parliamentary question time. (I think today’s double dose might have come about due to some horse trading with the Maori Party?)  Anyway, they’re both good ones: Question 1 – Jeanette Fitzsimons to the Prime Minister Does she still aspire for New Zealand [...] read more
    May 29, 2008 11:27 am - 24 Comments
  • frog

    Greenwash fishing - by frog



    This advert currently resides at Wellington Airport. Given the role Talley’s plays in the current state of our fisheries I imagine the advertising agency that designed this particular piece of greenwash would be washing their hands with bleach. Talley’s is currently selling Monkfish on special: As a sustainable resource, Monkfish allows our customers to benefit [...] read more
    March 26, 2008 8:21 am - 6 Comments
  • frog

    Anderton chooses squid over sea lions - by frog



    In the 1970s New Zealand started to let squid trawlers fish for squid around the subantarctic Auckland Islands. However each year the timing and location of this fishing happens to coincide exactly with the pupping and lactating season for New Zealand sea lions resulting in significant numbers of sea lions being killed in the squid [...] read more
    November 22, 2007 1:37 pm - No Comments