Source: Radio New Zealand
Fisheries Minister Shane Jones was initially unapologetic about the plan, but after advice from his leader and the Prime Minister, the controversial clause is gone. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
There has been a U-turn on the most controversial part of the sweeping new Fisheries Bill, but keeping undersized catches wasn’t the only fishhook in the legislation.
It was the great catch that wasn’t.
Fisheries Minister Shane Jones was forced to throw his controversial fishing clause back into the sea last week, following protests and backlash – now his “once-in-a-generation” overhaul of New Zealand’s fishing rules is set Shane to be scrutinised in parliament with its first reading.
The government is proposing sweeping changes to the Fisheries Act, aimed at making the industry more efficient, more profitable, and quicker to respond to changes in fish stocks.
But after pressure from environmental groups and recreational fishers, Fisheries Minister Jones pulled back on his contentious plan to scrap most minimum size limits for commercial fishers, effectively allowing them to land and sell baby fish, including snapper and tarakihi.
He was initially unapologetic about the plan, but after advice from his leader and the prime minister – it’s up for debate who gave it first – he pulled a late pivot last week, and the clause is gone.
“It’s quite a big development really,” says RNZ producer and reporter Ross McNaughton, who has covered the many twists and turns of the bill.
“I think it [the bill] definitely does have the potential to bite the Matua on the bum, because it is riling up a lot of people.”
Today, The Detail looks at the “complex, dense” bill, which is shaping up to be a hot political topic in an election year.
“It’s so hard to sum up because it’s such a big bill,” McNaughton says. “There is the setting of catch limits now for up to five years, there are restrictions on cameras and the fines, and even the restrictions on whether or not people can challenge these in court.
“So, there is just so much in there, it’s such a massive bill, and very hard to pin down in a headline. I guess you could say it’s very very murky waters.”
The Fisheries Minister insists the changes will cut red tape and unlock growth in a billion-dollar export sector.
But critics say it risks doing the opposite – weakening environmental protections and handing more power to big fishing interests.
Concerns are also mounting around transparency, with the proposed tweaks to on-board camera rules raising alarms about public oversight.
Recreational fishers and environmental groups warn the reforms could put pressure on already-stretched fish stocks – and limit access for everyday kiwis.
But then supporters argue the current system is outdated and slow – and say smarter, more responsive rules are long overdue.
The bill is expected to face intense scrutiny as it heads through Parliament, with the future of New Zealand’s fisheries hanging in the balance.
“The timing isn’t great, given this is an election year, and this is starting to gather a lot of political heat,” McNaughton says.
“It’s an incredibly complex issue, with passionate people on either side.”
At its core, the debate cuts to a familiar tension in New Zealand: how to protect a loved finite natural resource while supporting an industry that’s vital to regional economies.
The government maintains the reforms are about modernising an outdated system – making it more efficient, more responsive, and much better aligned with real-world fishing practices.
Now, as the bill edges closer to its next stage, many in this ocean-loving country will be watching closely.
“It is intrinsically New Zealand,” says McNaughton. “And that’s why it’s such a hot topic”.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
