Hoki fishery doesn’t deserve its sustainability tick

An independent panel of international fisheries experts agrees that the New Zealand hoki fishery does not merit the “sustainability tick” it has been awarded today. However, because of the procedures the Panel was operating under they were unable to stop the fishery being certified as “sustainable”.

Forest & Bird and WWF-NZ lodged objections to the fishery being recertified arguing that the fishery is unsustainable and in danger of collapse.

Forest & BirdAdvocacy Manager Kevin Hackwellsays the certification by the London-based Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), which was set up to support sustainable fisheries, is fatally flawed and sends the wrong message to fishing companies world wide.

Kevin Hackwell says the hoki fishery is unsustainable on a number of counts.

“Hoki stocks have dramatically collapsed. Since 2001, when the fishery was first certified, the hoki catch has fallen from 250,000 tonnes a year to 100,000 tonnes – a 60% reduction. This year the hoki quota looks likely to be further reduced in response to sustainability concerns. ”

“The fishery lacks a fish stock recovery plan, which is required under the MSC’s own rules. It also causes serious damage to the seabed by bottom trawling and routinely kills hundreds of seabirds and marine mammals as by-catch every year”, Kevin Hackwell says.

The Independent Objections Panel found itself in disagreement with the certification body in relation to the scores awarded to the fishery. The Panel says:

“… there are several instances ... where the Panel found itself in disagreement with the Certification Body in relation to the scores awarded. In each case, the Panel members would have taken a more conservative approach an would have awarded a lower score. In the circumstances of this particular certification process which received an overall passing score “by the skin of its teeth”, a lower score on almost any indicator would have resulted in a failure to recommend certification. Taking a holistic view to the overall state of the hoki fishery, the panel sees some validity to the objectors’ position that this is not a fishery that should be certified as sustainable.”

“The decision which the Independent Objections Panel found itself forced to make, is deeply disappointing. This decision makes a mockery of the MSC’s rules when a fishery can be approved as sustainable yet it clearly does not meet the environmental standards set down by those rules.”

The decision allows New Zealand hoki to retain the MSC’s logo, identifying it as being caught in a sustainable fishery, providing greater access to international markets and commanding a higher price.

“Recertification of the hoki fishery as sustainable means consumers around the world can have no faith in MSC certification, which is meant to guide them in their fish buying choices.”

“MSC procedures appear to have put short-term interests ahead of the goal of protecting fishing resources for future generations.”

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