Vanguard sets new standard for mussel industry - Swimming with sharks at the Chathams - Seafood New Zealand
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Vanguard sets Swimming
new standard for with sharks at
mussel industry the Chathams
February 2020 | Volume 28 | No. 01
OUR PROMISE
This is our promise to every New Zealander.
A promise about one of our most valued and treasured resources.
We are the men and women of the New Zealand seafood industry and we want
you to be proud of each and every one of us.
We promise to be guardians of our oceans and to continue finding new ways to
lead the world with sustainable practices – right now and for decades to come.
We may not always get it right, but we’re committed to always exploring ways to
do things better.
We have nothing to hide and much to be proud of.
So come with us and share our stories at seafood.co.nz.
OUR PROMISE
IN PRACTICE
OUR CODE OF CONDUCT
We do not condone illegal behaviour.
We will always aim to do the right thing. The law surrounding fishing is both technical and
complex and, at times, some people may make mistakes. When the law is breached, we will
accept the consequences and make changes where needed.
We will work with Government and other interested parties to develop
and implement principled and practical policies to ensure the use
of fisheries resources is sustainable.
If we don’t fish sustainably our industry has no future; it’s the cornerstone of our business.
We must ensure the economic gains we derive do not come at the cost of long-term
sustainability. Working constructively with Government is vital to strike the best balance
between current resource use and future opportunities for all New Zealanders. Striking this
balance requires application of sound principles to develop evidence-based policy that uses
robust information.
We will continue to actively minimise our impacts on the marine environment
and encourage others to act similarly.
It is important to us we look after our marine environment. All New Zealanders derive
benefits from our natural resources today, but we are also guardians for future generations.
This responsibility requires that we take care when we harvest; that we are conscious of our
impacts, and that we work hard to reduce them. All food production has an impact on the
environment, but we will strive to get ours as close to zero impact as we can.
We will continue to invest in science and innovation to enhance fisheries’
resources and add value.
Our fisheries are a treasured resource and, like all other countries, New Zealand uses these
natural resources for food, recreation and commerce. We commit to harvest the commercial
component of these resources responsibly. We commit to investments that add value to the
resources we harvest to deliver optimum value to New Zealand.
We look after our people and treat them fairly.
We value our people. Whether they are working on land or on vessels at sea, we will work
hard to keep them safe and to create an environment that fosters their passion for the
seafood industry.
We will be accountable for delivering on Our Promise and will support
increased transparency.
We will report annually on the progress we are making. We understand that much of
what we do is over the horizon and out of sight, and we welcome the public becoming
better acquainted with how we operate. Increased transparency is part of building that
understanding and trust, but it must be affordable, practical and respect the privacy and
dignity of our people.
We give our word
CONTENTS
27
Features
7 Swimming with sharks at the Chathams
18 Cover feature: Vanguard sets new
18
standard for mussel industry
27 Getting it right at 44 degrees South
Opinion
5
5 Bird-nerd sees fishermen through
different eyes
Regulars
10 News: Australians adopt NZ Promise
campaign
32 Faces of the Federation: Compliance
demands sadden Whakatane longline
specialist
39
39 Event: Seafood the star at Chathams
challenge
Recipe
41
41 Chatham Island paua and squid ink
dumplings
Cover photo, Tim Cuff.
Seafood New Zealand | February 2020 | 3
ED I T O R I ALS
Published by Seafood New Zealand Ltd.
Postal Address:
PO Box 297
Wellington 6140
In this issue
New Zealand
Physical Address:
Level 6
Eagle Technology House
135 Victoria Street
Wellington 6011
Phone: +64 (0)4 385 4005
www.seafoodnewzealand.org.nz
It’s always good to begin a new year on a
positive note. That’s why the cover story of
our first issue is so welcome.
Editorial enquiries:
Email: editor@seafood.org.nz
The building of MacLab’s multi-million mussel harvester
Vanguard by Q-West in Whanganui is not only an affirmation
Advertising enquiries: of the aquaculture industry’s bright future but marks a return
Karen Olver to the seafood sector of a long-established boatbuilder with
Phone: +64 (0)4 802 1513 an impressive record of producing quality aluminium boats of
advertising@seafood.org.nz many types. As readers will see, Vanguard is not only a standout
Subscriptions: for its design, capabilities, crew comfort and finish, but also has
Seafood New Zealand is published some features that set a new standard helping to show the way
for the New Zealand seafood industry. towards open ocean aquaculture.
It is also available on subscription There is more good news in the way the Chatham Islands
in New Zealand and overseas. Fisheries Forum has brought the community, the industry and
Subscription rates are available on the Government together in producing a locally-driven paua
request. Seafood New Zealand is management plan that could serve as the model for other
produced bi-monthly (six issues per fisheries in other parts of New Zealand, ending the frustrations
annum). and enmity that can be so counter-productive to sensible,
sustainable management. Seafood New Zealand staff were on
Your Say:
hand for a recent forum meeting and the same visit produced
Contributions of a nature relevant to
the full story of how paua divers deal with the threatening
the seafood industry are welcomed and
presence of great white sharks – and how Val Croon survived
industry participants are encouraged to
an attack and got straight back to work.
contribute. Letters to the Editor should
There’s much more to read about in this issue, from the
be signed and carry the writers’ full
comments of industry leaders gleaned from a timely and well-
names and addresses.
balanced New Zealand Herald series, to an interview with vastly
General: experienced Whakatane surface long-liner Steve Haddock,
The reproduction of articles and and photographer Tamzin Henderson’s strong message – and
materials published in Seafood pictures – asking that fishermen get the respect they are due.
New Zealand, in whole or in part, We also show how the Australian seafood industry has
is permitted provided the source borrowed our Promise campaign because of its success here,
and author(s), as applicable, are proving the old adage that imitation is the best form of flattery.
acknowledged. Not forgetting the many challenges our industry faces and the
However, all photographic material
need for a unified response, 2020 has got off to a promising
is copyright and written permission is
start.
required to reproduce it in any shape
or form. Articles and information
printed in Seafood New Zealand do not
necessarily reflect the opinions or formal
position of Seafood New Zealand Ltd
unless otherwise indicated. Tim Pankhurst
All material published in Seafood Chief Executive
New Zealand is done so with all
due care as regards accuracy and
factual content. The publishers and
editorial staff, however, cannot accept
responsibilityfor any inadvertent errors
and omissions that may occur.
ISSN 1172-4633 (Print)
ISSN 2538-0834 (Online)
4 | Seafood New Zealand | Volume 28 No. 01
OPINION
Bird-nerd sees fishermen
through different eyes
Tamzin Henderson
Deck crew on the Thomas Harrison hard at work.
to-read blog about my time on board.
“Twitcher, definition: A twitcher is The article I ended up writing was clinical, fact
a type of birder who seeks to add and statistic heavy, soulless, and it didn’t reflect how
I felt about the guys I was out there photographing.
as many species as possible to their From my first trip, these men have become my
life list, often without detailed or family and I am sad and frustrated on their behalf.
long-term observation of individual As a business owner, as a fisherwoman, and as a
Kiwi, I am angry that decisions can be made which
birds.” could cost fishing families their livelihood without
walking a day in their shoes, or spending a day on
While I don’t strictly consider myself a twitcher, their vessel. Decisions that are often made from
and I am not a scientist, I am definitely a bird-nerd. I public pressure through scaremongering, lazy
love being out on the water, watching the seabirds, journalism and organisations that shout the loudest.
noting which species I see the most of in each area, What we don’t see in the media are the
and how they interact with vessels. fishermen’s eyes trained for hours, day and night on
Until this year, I had never sailed off the west the bridge computer screens, watching for marks
coast of New Zealand. I was eager to get out for that indicate schools of fish, sea mounds that might
longer than a few days, and I desperately wanted a snag the net, other vessels or approaching weather
west coast trip, so I asked Sealord if they would let patterns. Those same eyes showing bewilderment,
me sail again. This time, it was on Thomas Harrison confusion, disappointment and sadness when a lean
at the end of the 2019 hoki season for 10 days. net doesn’t reflect the promise indicated by the
I had great plans for another articulate and easy- sonar or sensors.
Seafood New Zealand | February 2020 | 5
OPINION
The Southern Alps at last light make the hoki grounds a picture-perfect workplace.
What we don’t hear in the media are the shudders word exchanged between skippers and crews fishing
of the ship as she starts to haul, the groans of our waters – working as a team to fish with the best
protest from the winches, the creaks of strain from result for the vessel, the crew, the industry, and the
the ropes and net, and the same tension reflected sustainability of our seas.
on the face of the skipper as he anxiously waits to Every time I head out with these boys, I am
see if the last tow has been a good one. encroaching on their lives, their home on the
We don’t hear the whoop of elation when a large water, and their workplace, yet every time I’ve been
full bag of quota species is brought on board, or welcomed without question.
the thud and soft sigh as one of the boys collapses I’ve been fed, cared for and respected. They’ve
into his chair in the mess after a long and hard shift, told me stories about seabirds, they’ve asked me
at the end of a long and tiring season. questions about species, they’ve delightfully texted,
Unless we are on board, we don’t hear the emailed or messaged me when they’ve sighted a
communication, camaraderie, banter, encouragement, species they now recognise, even if I have to tell
cooperation and more than occasional colourful them, there is no such thing as a diesel bird, they are
all petrel powered of course.
One of the coolest things about the west coast
trip was the number of white morph southern
giant petrels. They may be a common sight to the
fishermen but it was the first time I had seen them
around the New Zealand mainland, and we had at
least three present for the whole 10 days.
The fishermen learnt from me, and taught me.
They’ve told me about bad fishing years, low fish
stocks, and bags full of low-paying fish. They’ve also
talked about advances in science, improvements in
environmental impact, and conscious and voluntary
decisions being made to protect fish stocks. As a
nation hopefully we can learn to trust again, and
hopefully more Kiwis might think about the people
behind this industry and hear their stories before
trying to silence them further.
Tamzin Henderson is an accomplished nature
photographer who has a special interest in
photographing seabirds, and has made several trips
on deepsea fishing boats in pursuit of great images.
With her sister Lana, she co-owns Henderson’s boat
chandlery and fishing supplies shop in Blenheim. A
portfolio of her stunning pictures, and her blogs on
A Buller’s albatross with a winter backdrop. her voyages, are at tamzinnz.com
6 | Seafood New Zealand | Volume 28 No. 01
FEATURE
Swimming with sharks
at the Chathams
Spending five days on the Chatham
Islands teaches you a lot about great
white sharks. Lesley Hamilton talked
to the divers who share whitey’s
environment and risk their lives daily.
The commercial paua divers of the Chatham Islands
are a tough lot. Dealing daily with great white sharks
will have something to do with that.
They are also the only divers permitted to dive on
air tanks, or Underwater Breathing Apparatus (UBA).
Chief executive of the Paua Industry Council,
Jeremy Cooper, said they won the fight to allow the
divers to use UBA in 2013.
“We went through a process to show the Ministry
for Primary Industries and the wider industry that we
were completely genuine. That it was all about diver
safety. That we didn’t want UBA in any other part of
New Zealand. Then we had to get a special permit
to allow us to trial it and report on it. We did that
for three to four years before they were confident
enough to change the regulations.”
Cooper said it was purely about safety in their
work environment, which is the largest commercial
paua fishery in New Zealand.
“On snorkel, when you are working at the bottom,
a shark is less likely to go you but as you’re coming
up to get your next breath that’s when they get you
– mid-water column or on the surface. Val Croon with his shark-mauled backpack.
“With UBA you can stay on the bottom and still
have the chance to back into a rock. Great whites
see them until it’s too late.”
So, are wetsuit-clad divers just another seal dinner?
“A guy out at Owenga here Cooper claims not.
“These are built-to-kill machines. But they are
has a great white shark jaws smart enough to know a diver is not a seal. It is
that I could swim through – only when they are in attack mode, when they have
smelled blood or just fresh from a seal kill, that they
probably a metre by a metre attack humans. If they thought we were seals no one
would be safe in the water.”
in size with three rows of And the threat is very real. Great white sharks
teeth on the way in.” can grow to more than six metres and the waters of
the Chatham Islands are directly on their historical
– JEREMY COOPER migratory path. They have been fully protected in
New Zealand waters since 2007.
are into self-preservation. They will not do anything “A guy out at Owenga here has a great white
stupid like charge into a rock or the sea floor. They shark jaws that I could swim through – probably a
will swim around you, check you out and then attack. metre by a metre in size with three rows of teeth on
Our paua divers are head down, scooping out paua the way in.”
and while the great whites can see you, you don’t Whiteys get respect around here.
Seafood New Zealand | February 2020 | 7
FEATURE
“These guys taught us
how to do military field
dressing tourniquets, which
won’t save your limb but
will stop you dying from
blood loss.”
– JEREMY COOPER
Chatham Island paua diver Val Croon had a close
encounter last year and reckons wearing tanks saved
his life.
“The one that grabbed me would have been
eight to ten feet. It was like getting hit by a freight
train. I am getting rag dolled and getting powered
through the water. My head is hard up against the
shark’s belly and he’s got me by the tanks. It felt like
he had me for eternity, but it was no longer than 15
seconds.”
Croon’s regulator was being pulled out of his
mouth and he was taking in salt water when he
managed to get his paua hook into the shark and it
let go.
“I just saw the flash of its tail and it was gone. I
was hyperventilating but backed into a ledge where
I knew I was safe.”
Croon, who was in five metres of water, decided
not to risk going up to the boat but instead hugged Val Croon’s son Val is already experienced in the water.
the bottom for 20 metres to the shore. On the way
he spotted his paua kit and realised the shark had “We had a specialised first aid guy come here
propelled him 10 metres through the water. because going through a normal first aid course
“There is no doubt in my mind that having tanks is not what you need when there is a shark attack.
saved my life that day.” These guys taught us how to do military field
While Croon was relatively unscathed by the dressing tourniquets, which won’t save your limb but
attack, another Chatham Islander, Vaughan Hill, lost will stop you dying from blood loss. They made up
most of his right arm to a great white while free- these $400 first aid kits of stuff that would actually
diving in 1996. help in a massive bleeding trauma event. Pretty sure
Cooper said the remoteness of the Chatham Islands, they all have them in their boats.”
800 kilometres east of New Zealand, adds to the risk. Croon admits that they sometimes illegally dived
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8 | Seafood New Zealand | Volume 28 No. 01
FEATURE
“The one that grabbed me
would have been eight to ten
feet. It was like getting hit
by a freight train.”
– VAL CROON
on tanks before the regulations were changed.
“Certain dive places around the island we would
risk diving with air illegally because the shark
risk was so high. People would think we were just
raping and pillaging but they just had a lack of
understanding about the real risk we faced on a day-
to-day basis.”
And it’s not the first time Croon has been
attacked. The first was in 1992.
“I’ve been attacked twice and had over twenty
encounters.”
South Australia has the same problem with great
Val Croon dives for paua in the largest commercial paua fishery
whites and the Paua Industry Council is arranging in New Zealand.
for some of the Chatham divers, including Croon, to
visit their Australian equivalents next month. down to attack you, he has a whole lot of metal
Jeremy Cooper explained that the Australian to deal with first because you are underneath it.
divers have a self-propelled shark-proof cage Hopefully they will buy a full-blown working rig and
operation. bring it back to the Chathams.”
“It is a mesh-type device that you can fill with air, While being allowed to use UBA legally has been
so it floats above you. So, if a shark come barrelling a relief, Croon and other paua divers will look at any
protection methods.
“I have kids and I am not sure I want them diving
in those waters.”
Great whites are pretty much the apex killer, but
Cooper said they do have one enemy.
“The orca, or killer whale, will smack them over.
In South Africa, where they have shark diving
operations, there are no great whites [at the
moment] – because the orca turned up this season.
They come up underneath the great whites and just
chomp their liver out.”
Which begs the question about using orca to
keep divers safe.
“Could we have sound effects of orca playing as
we dive? We haven’t tried it, but we’ll try anything,”
Cooper said.
In Australia, abalone divers use “Shark Shield”,
an electronic wire they tow behind them that puts
out an electronic field. Some swear by them, some
don’t. In other parts of the world, where great whites
are not protected, divers carry powerheads, or shark
sticks, which are specialised firearms you can carry
underwater.
But would you have the presence of mind to use
one in an attack? Cooper doubts it.
“Unless you have been underwater and had your
face mask knocked off and try to get it back on,
unless you know what it’s like to have a regulator
pulled out of your mouth so you can’t breathe
anymore – and to have this happening while a great
Paua Industry Council chief executive Jeremy Cooper. white has its jaws on your tank, yeah. Probably not.”
Seafood New Zealand | February 2020 | 9
NEWS Australians adopt NZ Promise campaign Tim Pankhurst Seafood Industry Australia representatives visited Port Lincoln in 2018 as part of its ‘Our Pledge’ roadshow. The Australian seafood industry has launched industry is striving to reduce its impact on the its version of New Zealand’s Promise aimed at environment and that it harvests seafood in a protecting its social licence to operate. sustainable way. Called Our Pledge, the initiative that was two An increasing number also recognise that the years in the pipeline was launched by Seafood Quota Management System leads the world Industry Australia (SIA) at the biennial Seafood in ensuring sustainability of fish and stocks by Directions conference in Melbourne in October. controlling harvest levels. SIA chief executive Jane Lovell acknowledged, Of those who had seen the television tongue in cheek, its debt to its trans-Tasman advertisements and online content featuring fishers, counterpart in thanking Seafood New Zealand for communities, innovation, careers and endangered “trialling” its Our Pledge campaign. species protection, 61 percent said they felt more The Promise by the New Zealand industry to favourable towards the industry as a result. do the right thing on the water and protect the Seafood’s reputation measures were below wine resource was launched in 2017. and sheep and beef but ahead of forestry, dairy and And it is having a positive impact, according to oil and gas. the annual Nielsen trust and reputation survey The seafood figure was 69 percent – good, very commissioned by SNZ. good or excellent – with 15 percent neutral, seven There is significant improvement in the percent don’t know and only nine percent rating proportion of New Zealanders who agree the reputation as bad. 10 | Seafood New Zealand | Volume 28 No. 01
NEWS
The Aussies face similar challenges in not always “Our Pledge
receiving the support they believe they deserve. recognises shared
There is a disconnect between people eating concerns and
seafood and the industry behind it. provides a way for
“AT SIA’s inception our members identified us, as an industry,
social licence as a top priority and we’ve been to work together to
working hard to develop an open and honest way actively communicate
to respond to community concerns and secure the and address these
future of Australia’s seafood industry,” Lovell said. critical issues.”
“There are too many instances of mistruths SIA chair Veronica
being peddled as fact. We want the community Papacosta said KPIs
to hear the real stories of our industry and to be and industry stories
confident that our aquaculture and wild catch would be developed Jane Lovell
industries are well managed, scientifically based that underpinned
and sustainable. and demonstrated each Pledge statement.
“We also want the community to be confident “We are committed to ensuring that Our Pledge
that we are committed to looking for better ways is more than just words and that every one of
to do things – it’s part of the way we care for our our statements can be backed up with facts and
environment and our people. figures,” she said.
“Being able to provide the seafood industry with Community pressure in Australia has resulted in a
security, particularly around access to resources, decline in commercial fishing activity and catch.
is one of the reasons we continue to strive for SIA had more than 120 signatories at its Pledge
improved social licence. launch including Austral Fisheries, Sydney Fish
“After all, we have a responsibility to keep putting Market, OceanWatch Australia, Humpty Doo
great, healthy Aussie seafood on the table for Barramundi and Raptis Seafoods.
families to enjoy for generations to come. Assistant Fisheries Minister Senator Jonathan
Australian seafood industry participants were quick to endorse the Pledge with their names and signatures.
Seafood New Zealand | February 2020 | 11NEWS
Duniam, who gave a rousing endorsement of the directly with fishers and processors.
seafood sector in opening the conference, was Many admitted to feeling beleaguered, that their
also among those to sign, as was Seafood contribution was not recognised, even denigrated.
New Zealand. “We should have done this years ago,” was the
Keeping Australians favourably disposed towards comment from one veteran skipper as the Promise
seafood is critical if we are to maintain access to campaign was launched.
resources, according to Austral Fisheries chief Regional Economic Development Minister Shane
executive David Carter. Jones, a former chair of Sealord and Te Ohu
The same applies in this country. Kaimoana, took up the theme in opening the 2019
Social licence to operate and sustainable seafood SNZ annual conference in Queenstown.
are identified as two of the top five materiality He urged the seafood sector to unite and act
issues among stakeholders in Sanford’s 2019 annual against “a largely metropolitan power culture”
report. seeking to damage it.
It was recognised in introducing the Promise He warned “millennial attitudes” were changing
three years ago that it had to have substance, feel New Zealand industry, with farming and forestry in
good words were not enough. the firing line as well as fishing.
That led to the Code of Conduct and a candid, A “doubting Thomas” mentality was driving
and at times uncomfortable, assessment of global trends against historical extractive
industry performance against six key measures – industries.
highlighting and condemning illegal behaviour, “I think that is just a new level of tripe, but we
sustainability, minimising impact on the marine have to deal with the fact as industry leaders that
environment, investment in science and innovation, there is a higher level now of expectation.
protecting our people and increased transparency. “We’ve got to muster a higher level of organisation,
Gaining industry support was vital. messaging and ability to deliver,” he said.
That was achieved through an annual countrywide The New Zealand – and now Australian – seafood
roadshow, visiting a dozen fishing ports and talking peak bodies are seeking to do exactly that.
New Zealand’s specialist fisheries and maritime law practice delivering results to the country’s seafood industry since 1998.
Our practice is one of the country’s pre-eminent advisers in this specialist field.
We look forward to serving you in the future.
Mike Sullivan Justine Inns Hamish Fletcher Karyn van Wijngaarden Hayley Campbell Kim Proctor-Western
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12 | Seafood New Zealand | Volume 28 No. 01NEWS
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Seafood Information.
Seafood production and procurement can be a
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Seafood New Zealand | February 2020 | 13FEATURE Herald’s ‘Sea Harvesters’ series gives industry a voice The Amaltal Columbia and Amaltal Atlantis form part of Talley’s deepsea fishing fleet. As cracking fishing yarns go, the one about New “It’s odd then that that this multi-billion-dollar Zealand’s seafood industry is hard to beat. industry is considered the least understood of our That was the compelling introduction to an food producing sectors.” extensive three-part series on issues facing the Fox found a consistent response from fishing seafood sector that ran in the New Zealand Herald leaders was their industry should be celebrated – in December. not criticised. Award winning journalist Andrea Fox, whose usual Andrew Talley, described as “scion of the Talley’s beat is the dairy industry, spent weeks amassing a fishing and food group”, was quoted at length. wealth of detail and interviewing key figures. “I haven’t met a fisherman or a company that’s not Admitting to knowing almost nothing about an environmentalist,” he said. a key export industry that is also woven into the “I think they all say the same thing, want to do the fabric of communities all around the country, Fox same thing, they just talk about it in different ways.” found the deeper she delved the more complex the Like other industry leaders, Talley is in good assignment became. spirits. “There’s really strong demand, the resource She soon learned every New Zealander has a is sound ... sustainable and healthy. stake in fishing and the sea and there is no shortage “All the big-ticket items, the resource, the of strong opinions. demand, where New Zealand fits in terms of its Her intro continued: “With high seas adventure, practices, its skill level in harvesting these resources, a whiff of danger, obsession and superstition, fierce the science ability in working out sustainable yields rivalries, big money, big and small boats and human –they’re all excellent and in good health. struggle, it’s a compelling script which usually “But it’s not without challenge – I don’t see any delivers a satisfying ending – at the barbecue after a primary industry today that’s not.” great day out, or a deep sea bounty to keep export Those challenges – which include a tight customers happy. employment market, rising costs, trade tensions, 14 | Seafood New Zealand | Volume 28 No. 01
FEATURE
the need to decarbonise, climate change and
environmental issues such as the critically
endangered native Maui dolphin – aren’t going
away, says Talley.
But they need to be faced.
“We are 100 per cent dependent on the health of
the oceans to harvest our resource,” he says.
Lowering the industry’s impact at sea - whether
that’s reducing the bycatch of mammals, more
selective fishing, better packaging choices, better
energy options – is a must, but a challenging must,
says Talley.
“All those things have trade-offs, whether it’s
lower catches, higher costs, less efficiencies - but
people need to understand what those trade-offs
are.”
Talley’s is the third largest quota holder out of
about 800 quota owners in New Zealand’s unique
fisheries management regime. As well as 10 big “We have the most diverse array of species. We
deepsea vessels, the Motueka-based group’s are a South Pacific nation with over 130 species
fishing division is serviced by a fleet of more than 80 under management, which no other nation can
individual owner-operators. claim, and most of these are in a good state.”
He says there are “a lot of myths and half-truths” If these industry leaders sound a tad defensive,
around the fishing industry. it’s little wonder.
“Look at the science and the facts. It is frequently The anti-fishing voices of environmental groups
described as well managed, as the best in the world. such as Greenpeace – and closer to home,
And it will get better.” recreational fishing lobbyist LegaSea - are growing
The industry is also frequently characterised as a more strident.
bunch of large quota holders, says Talley, when in Kuntzsch acknowledges that the commercial side
fact it’s far wider than that. has made mistakes.
There are more than 1000 commercially- “We are responsible for degrading the substrate
registered fishing vessels in New Zealand. Ninety in areas like the Hauraki Gulf. The mussel beds that
per cent of the industry are small owner-operators, were there were trawled away by heavy gear on the
processors, retailers and wholesalers, he says. bottom of the ocean. We have over-caught.
“With 25,000 people employed, it’s quite diverse. “People thought the same all over the world – that
Look at Greymouth, Motueka, Bluff, Westport, fish were forever. They’ll just grow back.”
Picton – the fishing industry is a large part of But that was before 1986, when it was a race
those communities and reaches deep into coastal for the last fish, stocks were near collapse and
communities.” the Government stepped in with legislation and
Volker Kuntzsch, chief executive of listed industry a world-leading control regime called the quota
heavyweight Sanford, is another in whom the management system (QMS).
passion runs strong. Kuntzsch isn’t taking the recreational sector’s
The German-born, Arnold Schwarzenegger criticism on the chin.
sound-alike says having worked internationally for 25 “As a scientist I would love recreational fishermen
years, he can look to monitor their catches, and also to highlight how
at the industry much has gone back overboard because it wasn’t
from the outside. the legal size – because the impact is massive.”
“People Like Tim Pankhurst, chief executive of fishing
complain and find industry association Seafood NZ, Kuntzsch says it’s a
all sorts of reasons myth that fish stocks are in big trouble.
why it should be “We are not in a situation where we are facing
discredited but on the extinction of certain fish stocks ... a lot of effort
an international has gone into doing the right thing because we
scale we do a have realised these resources are finite, so we find
fantastic job. different ways of handling things. We want to be in
“I’m a scientist business for a long time and create value for a long
originally and time.”
I know we look Pankhurst: “Yes, it has its flaws but overall our
after our fish fisheries management system is proven, it has been
Volker Kuntzsch stocks. adopted worldwide and it is sustainable. We are not
Seafood New Zealand | February 2020 | 15FEATURE going to run out of fish. “With all those advantages, we should be hailing our fishers and harvesters as heroes – not constantly denigrating them as the anti-commercial fishing lobby does.” Te Ohu Kaimoana chief executive Dion Tuuta heads an organisation which ensures that the integrity of Maori legislated fishing rights – commercial and customary – are protected and upheld. Iwi are major stakeholders in the industry, owning more than 33 per cent of total quota. A charitable trust, Te Ohu Kaimoana is the eyes, ears and mouthpiece for the collective fishing interests of 58 iwi organisations. It works with Aotearoa Fisheries, which trades as Moana Fisheries and includes the biggest quota holder, Sealord. “The vast majority of people don’t understand how New Zealand’s commercial fishing industry operates. Most New Zealanders don’t understand anything about their food source,” says Tuuta. “Because of what I would classify as a significant amount of misinformation, there’s quite a negative media, social media and NGO (non-governmental organisation) view of fisheries. Tuuta says recreational fishing is a “huge” pastime for Maori, but he doesn’t pull any punches on what and it’s the QMS that then provides the commercial the industry sees as an imbalance in the regulation framework and certainty for investment … it remains of commercial and recreational fishing. world-leading.” Which isn’t to say the system is He and Seafood NZ’s Pankhurst claim politicians perfect. are terrified to impose regulations on the country’s Sanford’s Kuntzsch says the QMS needs to be 600,000-odd pleasure fishers because of the more agile. potential voter backlash. “Rising water temperatures, increasing algal “No politician will mess with recreational fishing blooms, changing salinity and rising sea levels rights, and they certainly would be brave to restrict definitely have an impact on fish stocks. We would Maori customary fishing rights,” says Tuuta. not want to be in a position where we have quotas Talley says there’s “definitely” a growing concern for fish that are not in our fisheries management about the politicisation of fishing. area, and fish in our management area we have no But he thinks the Fisheries Act helps. quota for.” “We’re lucky to have it. Any fishery management Fox also interviewed LegaSea mouthpiece Scott system in the world that’s been politicised has Macindoe but appeared to have little truck with his failed. It’s important our fisheries management extremism, witness his likening of the commercial decisions and our marine management generally is sector to terrorists with reference to “inshore fishing driven on facts and science, not politics.” jihad”. It’s little wonder the fishing industry isn’t well Fox says recreational fishing warriors’ emails understood. It’s complex, diverse and according to indicate they are feisty people. Pankhurst, probably New Zealand’s most regulated. “Perhaps they should go fishing more to relax. Talley says that’s because fisheries resources are “A visit to a fishing social media site or the complex. magazine stand of a bookstore implies the situation “These are living, dynamic biological masses is not as dire as LegaSea and like-minded fishers which change daily. We operate in a public would have it. All those photos of beaming fishers environment and the ocean is something we learn and their catch, all those tales of a great day out on more about every day. the water. “The regulatory and legislative environment is “Social media and the more extreme end of the very complex. The very core of that is the QMS and pleasure fishing advocacy continue to be venomous the Fisheries Act, which are both a wonderful piece about commercial operators, claiming they’re of legislation and a wonderful concept.” running amok and being allowed by governments to Talley says the QMS is the “bedrock” that ensures pillage the seas. fisheries are sustainable. “This is despite scientific research showing that 97 “It’s the QMS that provides for the science, the percent of all fish landed in New Zealand come from research and the funding to ensure that’s the case, stocks that are sustainable and healthy.” 16 | Seafood New Zealand | Volume 28 No. 01
“catch fish...not cables”
There are a number of international submarine cables which come ashore in the Auckland area. These cables supply international
communications for both New Zealand and Australia to the rest of the world.
New Zealand is a very isolated nation and as such is extremely reliant upon global communication via submarine cables. Here in New
Zealand over 98% of all international communication is carried via submarine fibre optic cables. These cables are a key component of
New Zealand’s infrastructure and play a significant role in our everyday lives, the general economy and future growth of New Zealand.
These cables are laid in three submarine cable corridors in the greater Auckland area where anchoring and fishing is prohibited under
the Submarine Cables & Pipelines Protection Act.
These areas are: Symbols Relating To Submarine Cables
These are some of
• Muriwai Beach out to the 12 mile
territorial limit where both anchoring and Submarine cable
the penalties
fishing is prohibited. • A maximum fine of $20,000 for a
• Scott Point to Island Bay in the upper non-commercial vessel.
Waitemata Harbour where anchoring is Submarine • A maximum fine of $100, 000 for a
prohibited. cable area commercial vessel.
• Takapuna Beach this runs from Takapuna
Beach in the south to just north of the Hen • A maximum fine of $250,000 for
& Chicken Island (opposite Taiharuru Head) damaging a submarine cable.
where anchoring and fishing is prohibited. Anchoring Additional to the fine for damage, the cable
prohibited
Note: These protected areas are monitored by sea owners would inevitably pursue the recovery
and air patrols. of costs associated with repairs, this could be
up to $100,000 plus a day; a typical repair can
Fishing
prohibited
take up to two weeks.
Figure 1.
Be Aware
These International submarine cables
carry up to 10,000 volts to power the
system repeaters along the cable.
For more detail refer to
appropriate marine charts.
Kaitaia
Islands
Bay of
Kerikeri Russell
Kawakawa
Kaikohe Poor Knights Is.
To download Spark Undersea Cable Awareness Charts visit: ANCHORING
Hikurangi AND
boaties.co.nz/useful-info/cables-underwater.html FISHING
PROHIBITED
What should you do?
WHANGAREI ZONE
Dargaville
• If you are going into any of these areas, be sure to check your marine charts and/or Marotere Is.
Hen & Chicken Is.
GPS plotter so you know the exact locations of the prohibited zones. The relevant The Pinnacles
charts are NZ53, NZ5322, NZ532, NZ522, NZ52, NZ42 and NZ43. The symbols used to Mokohinau Is.
mark the zones are detailed in Figure 1.
Little
• If you suspect you have snagged your anchor or fishing gear on a submarine cable in Barrier
Is.
Great
one of these areas, don’t try to free it. Note your position, abandon your gear, then Wellsford
Barrier Is.
call 0800 782 627. Kaipara
Harbour
Flat
Rock
Kawau Is.
C.Colville
What happens outside the prohibited areas?
Tiritiri
Matangi Is. Hauraki
Whangaparoa Mercury Is.
Peninsula Gulf.
ANCHORING
AND Rangitoto Is.
These cables are covered by the Submarine Cables and Pipelines Protection Act FISHING
Takapuna
regardless of whether they are inside or outside a prohibited area. Beyond the PROHIBITED Muriwai AUCKLAND Waiheke Is.
ZONE
confines of the “anchoring and fishing prohibited” areas, the cables are clearly marked Piha
Papatoetoe
Manurewa
on the appropriate marine charts. Manukau
Papakura Coromandel
Harbour
Peninsula
Considering possible positioning inaccuracies and repaired cable section deviations,
fishermen are advised to keep a minimum distance of one nautical mile from either Pukekohe
Thames
Waiuku
side of charted cables.
Note this number:
VIP.S131
For any queries regarding submarine cables call: 0800 782 627
Seafood New Zealand | February 2020 | 17COVER FEATURE
Vanguard sets new stand
A multi-million-dollar mussel harvester built by Q-West in
Whanganui for Nelson-based MacLab quickly proved itself
ideal for the job. Bill Moore talked to the builders and their
happy clients.
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On its third day in operation, Vanguard returns to Port Nelson with an 80-tonne haul of mussels harvested in Golden Bay.
Photo, Richard McBride.
Q-West has built many boats of many types, relationships with every client.
but Vanguard is the first mussel harvester to be Customers require detailed records and a high
launched from its yard at Castlecliff, Whanganui. level of confidence that they will get what they
Constructed over 12 months and completed on order, on time, he said.
time and on budget, the 30-metre aluminium vessel “That’s what we bring to the table – we’re going
incorporates several features new to the mussel to put realistic delivery dates and we have the
industry. resources that if we find the projects are falling
Most notably it has ballast tanks to improve its behind for whatever reason, to bolster the numbers
stability when working on the mussel farms and to bring it back into line.
travelling across Tasman and Golden bays – areas
that are more challenging than the sheltered waters
of the Marlborough Sounds.
“If they wanted something
This is just one of the reasons that MacLab is so extra during the build, it
satisfied with the new vessel, which was officially
welcomed to Nelson just before Christmas. was crystal clear if it was
“I’ve been part of a few big projects and I’d have
in or out, with none of that
to say this was one of the most pleasurable to be
part off,” said MacLab marine farming manager animosity that you might
Scott Gillanders.
“It didn’t take long working with Q-West to otherwise get – that made
develop confidence and trust with them. It was a life very easy.”
no-surprises journey – they did exactly what they
said they would do and we’re very happy with the – COLIN MITCHELL
outcome.”
This is the sort of compliment that Q-West works “We run in-depth production charts and provide
to win with every build. lots of feedback to the client about where the boat
Chief executive Colin Mitchell said the company is and where the materials are.”
– which can be working on up to five vessels at Mitchell said although Vanguard was the first
any one time – strives to develop good working mussel harvester for Q-West and it was working
20 | Seafood New Zealand | Volume 28 No. 01COVER FEATURE
with Oceantech designers Richard McBride and Kirk
Mullen for the first time, its long experience and
Skipper had input too
established production system worked as well as for
other boat types.
“The first thing was, have we costed it correctly
without having any historical data to fall back on? In
the end we’ve done pretty much as we expected.”
He was very proud of the 25-strong team that built
Vanguard, he said, with operations manager Chass
Wardle doing an “exceptionally good job”.
Q-West had been lucky to have MacLab choose it
over other boatbuilding companies, Mitchell said.
“Scott [Gillanders] was very knowledgeable and Stoney Bourke in Vanguard’s wheelhouse. Photo, Tim Cuff.
so was Stoney Bourke, the skipper who runs the
boat, and very easy to work with, to make sure the Vanguard skipper Michael “Stoney” Bourke was glad
boat could be its absolute best.” to see Q-West incorporate his ideas into the design
A lot of detailed work on the specifications meant and fit-out of the new MacLab mussel harvester.
that MacLab knew what it was getting for its money Bourke, who partners in the boat with MacLab
from the start, with no budget blow-outs. through his company Tasman Bay Aquaculture, has
“If they wanted something extra during the build, been a part of the industry since 1985 when he joined
it was crystal clear if it was in or out, with none of the crew of Havelock legend Ivan Godsiff.
that animosity that you might otherwise get – that “I look up to him big-time. I worked with him for
made life very easy.” eight years and I like to think I run a boat like he did.”
It also meant that Vanguard left Whanganui fully Very pleased with Vanguard, he particularly likes
operational and was hauling mussel lines within days the fact that it has a proper galley away from the
of arriving at Port Nelson. bridge, and the detachable safety rails that can be
Mitchell said Q-West worked hard to make the quickly set up on the deck when the boat is steaming
boat easy to service and maintain, with additional anywhere.
systems and materials to minimise corrosion and “It’s one of those safety features I’ve always liked
maintenance, and an emphasis on easy accessibility the idea of.”
in the engine room. As far as he knows they’re a first on mussel boats,
“It’s not like a pleasure boat where you hide just like the ballast tanks which provide stability on a
everything behind panels. It’s going to have a hard- boat that at 70 tonnes is “quite light and quite lively”
working life and you need to make it easy to work when the tanks aren’t in use.
on.” “It’s a great sea boat, it performs and manoeuvres
really well and when you put the ballast in it performs
even better. We’ll get more sea days in Tasman Bay.”
It was Bourke’s idea to have two seats side-by-side
in the wheelhouse instead of the usual one.
“I want to be teaching people. I feel the industry is
lacking in that side of things.
“You get a young fella, you just keep them on
deck, they’re going to leave. If you show them what
they can become, put them in the wheelhouse, put
them in the seat, they’re going to stick around.”
Other stand-out features he mentions are the
bilge system, the fuel system and the set-up of the
gear built by Ansco.
Bourke and his crew currently tend to 150
submerged mussel lines in Tasman and Golden Bays,
holding an average of 40 tonnes each, and also carry
out mussel seeding.
He said Vanguard was one of the biggest mussel
harvesters in the South Island and offered many
improvements on previous boats, but he always
remembered those working onshore too.
“You can have a nice boat like this, but you’ve got
Q-West operations manager Chass Wardle (left) and
chief executive Colin Mitchell with MacLab marine farming
to have the people in the factory as well.
manager Scott Gillanders at the Nelson naming ceremony. “It’s a big circle. They’re part of the boat as much
Photo, Steve Hussey. as me and my crew.”
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However, the interior finish was high quality and “A big project like that,
there was good sound insulation to make the living
quarters quiet. it kind of ends up being a
partnership. We wanted a
“People who have seen the boat have been telling
us that this is where the industry needs to go – we’ve
got more women coming into the workforce and the vessel delivered on time and
men also expect not to be living in a hovel.”
He said Vanguard had already prompted interest on budget, that was very
from others in the mussel industry and he saw
aquaculture vessels as a strong new market for
important to us.”
Q-West, particularly as the industry grows and – SCOTT GILLANDERS
moves into the open ocean.
He wanted the seafood industry to know that Q-West’s boatyard got started in the 1960s and
Q-West – which built a number of inshore fishing the current business employs skilled boatbuilders
boats in the 1980s and ‘90s – was a good option as who trained as far back as the 1970s.
fleets were upgraded or enlarged. Its works in progress include a 24-metre quad-
“We’re new to the aquaculture game and we’ll engined vessel for long-term client Whale Watch
be guided by the designers and the MacLabs of the Kaikoura, RIBs for America’s Cup police work, and pilot
world. I don’t know what the future looks like until boats.
these pioneers who are putting these farms further Projects it has completed in the past few years
out start to develop that. include a 19-metre tourist catamaran, a 16-metre
“The core thing is – here’s our first mussel crayboat, 17 and 19-metre Hamilton jet-powered
harvester, what’s come out of that is a customer that catamarans for the Victoria Maritime Police and the
couldn’t be happier and a boat that does exactly as New Zealand Customs Service, ferries for Fullers in
it should do, and as a project everything has worked Auckland and an 18-metre flat-deck barge for use in
exactly as it should.” the Marlborough Sounds.
Vanguard’s vital statistics
Home port: Nelson, New Zealand
Designer: Oceantech NZ, Nelson
Builder: Q-West Boat Builders, Whanganui
Construction material: Marine grade aluminium
Length overall: 30.6m
Length waterline: 28.7m
Beam: 8.8m
Draught: 2.5m
Main engines: 2x Scania DI13 073M
Cruise speed: 12 knots
Fuel capacity: 12,000 litres
Ballast tank capacity: 24,000 litres
Fresh water capacity: 2,000 litres
Hydraulic equipment: Fluid Power Systems
Harvesting equipment: Ansco
Electronics: Simrad (Advance Trident)
A birds-eye view showing the spacious deck layout. Photo, Q-West.
22 | Seafood New Zealand | Volume 28 No. 01COVER FEATURE
Vanguard’s hull was built upside down, then flipped using four cranes before construction continued inside the shed.
Generally, clients came back for another Q-West was about quality and reputation as well as price.
build after the first one, Mitchell said. “A big project like that, it kind of ends up being a
“We’ve got a good little business here that does a partnership. We wanted a vessel delivered on time
huge, diverse range of boats and every one of them and on budget, that was very important to us.”
goes out with a happy customer – it just happens to Q-West’s boatbuilding experience allowed it to
be boats we’re building. I guess if we were building work closely with the designers to make the vessel
houses, we’d have the same philosophy.” more maintenance friendly, and through the fit-out
MacLab’s Gillanders said the Vanguard project had Q-West put a lot of innovative things into the vessel
received some very competitive tenders but the job to make it more maintenance free and easy to use.
Harvesting in progress. Photo, Tim Cuff.
Seafood New Zealand | February 2020 | 23COVER FEATURE Crewman Patric Lorandi in the crew lounge and galley. Photo, Tim Cuff. “That’s what you get when you work with vessel as you can an aesthetically pleasing one – a company that has so much experience – an we wanted to do a few things to make it not just evolution of fitting out vessels and getting better on practical but to look good too, I guess as a good each one that they do,” Gillanders said. showcase for our company, and our crew.” Vanguard was designed to deliver two days’ worth There are two crews of four working four days on, of processing in a day’s harvest, 80 tonnes, and to four off, sometimes overnighting in port. be stable and safe in the open waters of Tasman and Gillanders said the success of a project was Golden bays. measured when it came into use. After arriving in Its two 12,000 litre ballast tanks are there for that Nelson Vanguard spent two half-days on MacLab’s reason, making Vanguard the first of its type in New mussel farm for crew training and running up some Zealand. of the gear. “It certainly makes a big difference in terms of “On its third full day it went out, did an 80-tonne stability, so it’s great when they’re working and also harvest in Golden Bay and delivered it to Nelson. when they’re transiting empty.” That’s a testament to Q-West, [harvesting The vessel carries a high-speed optical sorter to equipment supplier] Ansco and [hydraulic systems weed out all the marine waste from the crop it is supplier] Fluid Power Systems, but also everyone harvesting or the spat it is seeding, and a grader to involved in the project, and the crew. It’s about separate nutraceutical grade mussels from half-shell people’s attitudes to making things happen. It was food grade, allowing MacLab to get more value from extremely pleasing for us.” its crop. When he first heard Colin Mitchell say that people The privately-owned Nelson company focuses who got a boat built by Q-West usually came back on producing high-quality mussel powder for for the next boat, he “didn’t think much of it”, nutraceutical manufacture and has invested heavily Gillanders said. in boosting production over the past two years. “But after building the boat I can see exactly what Gillanders said Vanguard had a high standard of he was meaning. There’s a whole range of things crew comfort, being comfortable, spacious, well- that Q-West are very good at.” insulated and air-conditioned. It’s also good to look at inside and out. “When we designed the vessel, we thought you For more, including a portfolio of completed boats, can put just as much effort into making an ugly go to Q-West.com 24 | Seafood New Zealand | Volume 28 No. 01
NEWS
Annual craft beer mecca a
natural seafood platform
Emily Pope
The peak celebration of New Zealand craft beer, the use of seafood in beers – kina, paua, crayfish,
Beervana, draws more than 16,000 hop enthusiasts oyster stout. Brewers are being bold, using herbs
to Wellington each August – with seafood taking a and spices and experimenting with infusing new
growing role. ingredients. They’re playing with salt-based and
Beervana manager Ryan McArthur says the umami flavours that aren’t typically expected with
festival, now in its 19th year, has become a prime beer.”
event for vendors, Seafood has the potential to expand on the
with plenty of festival’s offerings, McArthur said.
opportunities “With beer festivals, the crowds often expect
still available for deep-fried, festival-friendly food. We keep the
seafood. favourites, and they’re of the highest quality, but
“Beer covers we’re increasingly trying to steer towards more local,
such a wide fresh food that appeals to the tastes of everyone.”
gamut of flavours. There are 18 food vendor spaces available for
Whether you’re 2020.
looking for Purveyors submit menus that are curated by
a contrast of the Beervana team to ensure there is a variety of
flavours, or to culinary offerings.
refine them – beer “We aim to pair breweries with food vendors that
can be a blank will collaborate and complement each other’s fare,”
canvas. McArthur said.
Ryan McArthur “We’re seeing Restaurants or food producers with a focus on
Seafood New Zealand | February 2020 | 25You can also read
