Responsible Fisheries Programme reaches third phase

More than 30 Moana contracted commercial fishers attended a workshop in Whangarei today, to learn the fundamentals of the new Electronic Reporting (ER) and Geographic Position Reporting (GPR) systems being introduced in 2019.

The workshop marked the third round of training under Moana New Zealand’s Responsible Fishers Programme.

This year, the Ministry of Primary Industries requires all fishers to switch from paper based reporting systems, to electronic reporting systems which aim to improve the accuracy of data captured by commercial fishers in New Zealand.

In conjunction with Fisheries Inshore New Zealand (FINZ) and Seafood Innovations Limited (SIL), Moana New Zealand is working to ensure its contract fishers are well equipped to adopt the new ‘Deckhand.nz’ app that will streamline the way data is supplied, monitored and assessed. Those fishers who attended the workshop will participate in a research trial project ahead of the statutory ER data reporting date, funded and operated by FINZ and supported by Moana New Zealand.

Moana New Zealand Quota and Resource Manager, Nathan Reid says these innovations support the industry’s future focussed approach to Aotearoa’s fisheries.

“Alongside historical knowledge about vessel handling and valuable fishing experience, constant innovation and change is required to ensure we honour our promises to be sustainable for future generations,”

“Switching from paper-based to electronic reporting will not only help in the data collection process, but also provide an easy means for fishers to record their catches. That’s why Moana New Zealand is committed to helping and guiding contract fishers through this process of change to make it as smooth as possible,” Reid says.

While members of Moana New Zealand’s senior management team facilitated the workshop, Moana also drew on the expertise of Trident Systems, Fishserve Innovations New Zealand and FINZ to discuss the benefits of ER and GPR for fishers and the industry.

Moana New Zealand Chief Executive Steve Tarrant echoes Reid saying:”Even though Moana New Zealand do not own any of our own vessels and our contract fishers are their own locally run, independent businesses, we still have a responsibility to ensure our fishers are living by our value of kaitiakitanga,”

“By bringing industry experts into the communities of our contract fishers we can facilitate healthy discussion on industry issues and equip fishers with the skills to use softwares and systems competently ahead of them becoming statutory,”

“We are pleased that our fishers in conjunction with Moana are proactively and positively approaching innovation to ensure we are leaders within the fisheries industry, as kaitiaki of the sea,” Tarrant added.

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