Scott Macindoe: The Future of New Zealand fish. Numbers have fallen. What are we leaving our children?

New Zealand with the fourth largest economic zone on earth is facing a major dilemma with its vast fisheries.  Being now essentially run by a handful of fishing families. That as an industrial fishing machine it still controls the narrative regarding fishing in NZ waters. There is a dimension of Maoridom who are responsible for managing Treaty of Waitangi Settlement assets, but regrettably the NZ Government's Ministry of Primary Industries - 'is captured' due to their inability to manage for example red snapper in NZ. But the whole much lauded 'Quota Management system, is a major failure. 

Scott clearly states that for change to really happen - is that we need a crisis. This will then pull us all together to solve this huge out of control quota management system and all its attendant challenges. Quoting Milton Friedman, Nobel Prize winner in Economics 1976 - who declared - "Only a crisis - actual or perceived - produces real change."

He said that though the recreational fishing lobby took the establishment to the HighC, the Appeals Court, the Supreme Court winning each time - and being awarded costs and yet 'there was still no apparent change.'

He said that the recreational fisherfolk were learners in how to deal with the well financed fishing lobby - that it was just a battle!  

In this interview we learn that fishing rights are now 'property rights', they are eternal.

Those who did the most damage to the fisheries - got the most reward. 

This is totally incongruent with a democracy. NZers are being sold a lie. 

Fishing companies are today getting poor economic returns. Poor returns for whanau and Maori Families.

No businesses have been established for Maori to be engaged in, since 1992 when the treaty settlement was signed. Only a handful of Maori businesses have come out of this - actually the system has gone about disestablishing small businesses and small scale anything. 

This Scott says is the problem of this Neo liberal circus that is happening.

Scott encourages us to see YouTube - price of fish video - it's only 15 minutes - very important. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIQNDYoymMU

Precautionary approach to NZ fish stock is imperative 

He states that we must now take on the precautionary principle in relation to fish stocks and that we can not go below 50% of the fish species that are being fished. Meaning 50% of the unfished biomass. That future generations are depending on the fidelity of the fishermen of today, be it Government, commercial or recreational.  

He says that what is happening is that we 'manage' our fisheries - the 4th largest area on Earth and that it is based on computer models and on maximum sustainable yields. He says it's a fantasy and an illusion. (listen) - He says that as a country we have to find a way to replace these destructive fishing methods and management systems, as 'they' have had 40 years of opportunity (plunder) - but their days are over - they have taken the best that was and they have left the fisheries in a very sorry state. - listen.

Respect for all of nature

He further states - it is time now for us to have respect for these animals, respect for the environment, respect for our communities, we have to have employment in our regional areas, yet we need to have commercial fishing - but not in the senseless way is is exploiting the fisheries, the ocean and our collective future. Scott gives the two main supermarkets chains here in NZ a towelling for selling fish that is dead, ageing and devoid of life force. That we in NZ fool ourselves into thinking that we are eating fresh vibrant food from the marine environment.

Aquaculture - not necessarily a burgeoning industry.

It is not saving wild fish - but quite the reverse ... listen he will school you yet again. It's very polluting and the food the caged salmon is n