Marine NZ

Probe exposes fishing underbelly

23 Oct 2011 | 5 Comments

A ministerial inquiry sparked by a Sunday Star-Times investigation reveals serious fears about fishing practices in NZ waters. Michael Field reports.

Decrepit foreign fishing vessels crewed with sweatshop Asian labour are destroying New Zealand’s international reputation for safe and sustainable food and are ruining our ability to catch our own fish.

These claims come in submissions to a joint ministerial inquiry into the use of foreign charter vessels (FCVs) that take 62% of the deep ocean catch and almost all of the Maori fish quota.

Their crews pay no tax, but are covered by the Accident Compensation Corporation. The vessels ignore safe-ship standards as well as employment, health and safety laws. Crew on FCVs are paid a quarter of the rates paid on New Zealand-flagged boats.

New Zealand’s own Orca Lady in International Spotlight

04 Sep 2011 | 28 Comments

BBC twos new documentary named “The Woman Who Swims With Killer Whales” features the life work and passion of Dr. Ingrid Visser. Known by many throughout New Zealand as the orca lady, Dr. Visser had taken upon herself to research and document behaviours of Orca over the last 18 years with many discoveries on the way.