Pine Party Oceans & Fisheries Plan
Oceans are an important resource to the world; it has been embedded into our heritage and it was through the oceans New Zealand was found by the first Maori settlers. In New Zealand the ocean is extensively used for many purposes, including a wide range of food source or an occupation to many Kiwis. But the increasing pollution of our oceans, and unsustainable practices such as overfishing has led to rapid declines in its resources.
Pine Party believes that protecting our oceans and creating a sustainable ecosystem within, is the way to go for New Zealand. We are hoping to create clean oceans which can be used not only by us but also our future generations to come. To do this we believe strict policies in our fishing sector is the way to go.
Our Future Ocean & Fisheries polices are:
1. Banning Bottom Trawling
New Zealand seafood is internationally recognized as some of the best in the world, we take pride in our produce, and it employs thousands of people with a job directly and indirectly. However, the Pine party recognizes that the means in which is it is caught is damaging to the ecosystem and unsustainable (Hooper, 2022). Bottom trawling is the most popular method, and it is damaging because it picks up anything which is in its path, this leaves ecosystems imbalanced making the area unsustainable as a result. Which is why our policy is to ban bottom trawling for all commercial fishing companies within New Zealand.
2. International Treaty
Oceans don’t belong to just one country; it is shared by multiple countries. Even if New Zealand does their role, unsustainable and polluting practices by other countries will have a toll on our ecosystem. Which is why the Pine Party recognizes that we must reach out and make an agreement with other countries which share our oceans. Together we can create a clean ocean which helps our ecosystems thrive.
3. Aiding Commercial Fishing Companies
We recognize that banning the most popular form of fishing for commercial companies will be a strain on them financially, and due to this many people may lose their livelihoods (Seas at Risk, 2021). Which is why we are proposing a plan to aid these companies financially and educate them in sustainable forms of fishing. In doing so we will allow people to keep their jobs, whilst have a sustainable ocean which can be enjoyed by our future generations.
4. Setting up More Protected Areas
New Zealand is home to many protected aquatic species such as the Maui dolphin, and it has rich oceans which hosts many different types of ecosystems. Our EEZ is one of the biggest in the world, and at the Pine party we believe that the fishing industry is given to much freedom to fish where they like (Our maritime zones and boundaries, 2022). Which is why the Pine party is planning to protect more of New Zealand’s oceans, our policy is to protect 40% of New Zealand’s oceans.
References:
Hooper, E. (2022). What is bottom trawling and why is it bad for the environment? - Greenpeace Aotearoa. Retrieved 29 September 2022, from https://www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/story/what-is-bottom-trawling-and-why-is-it-bad-for-the-environment/
Seas at Risk. (2021). Benefits quickly outweigh costs of banning bottom trawling from Marine Protected Areas - Seas at Risk. Retrieved 30 September 2022, from
https://seas-at-risk.org/press-releases/benefits-quickly-outweigh-costs-of-banning-bottom-trawling-from-marine-protectedareas-
Our maritime zones and boundaries. (2022). Retrieved 30 September 2022, from
https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/environment/oceans- and-fisheries/our-maritime-zones-and-boundaries/
Pine Party believes that protecting our oceans and creating a sustainable ecosystem within, is the way to go for New Zealand. We are hoping to create clean oceans which can be used not only by us but also our future generations to come. To do this we believe strict policies in our fishing sector is the way to go.
Our Future Ocean & Fisheries polices are:
1. Banning Bottom Trawling
New Zealand seafood is internationally recognized as some of the best in the world, we take pride in our produce, and it employs thousands of people with a job directly and indirectly. However, the Pine party recognizes that the means in which is it is caught is damaging to the ecosystem and unsustainable (Hooper, 2022). Bottom trawling is the most popular method, and it is damaging because it picks up anything which is in its path, this leaves ecosystems imbalanced making the area unsustainable as a result. Which is why our policy is to ban bottom trawling for all commercial fishing companies within New Zealand.
2. International Treaty
Oceans don’t belong to just one country; it is shared by multiple countries. Even if New Zealand does their role, unsustainable and polluting practices by other countries will have a toll on our ecosystem. Which is why the Pine Party recognizes that we must reach out and make an agreement with other countries which share our oceans. Together we can create a clean ocean which helps our ecosystems thrive.
3. Aiding Commercial Fishing Companies
We recognize that banning the most popular form of fishing for commercial companies will be a strain on them financially, and due to this many people may lose their livelihoods (Seas at Risk, 2021). Which is why we are proposing a plan to aid these companies financially and educate them in sustainable forms of fishing. In doing so we will allow people to keep their jobs, whilst have a sustainable ocean which can be enjoyed by our future generations.
4. Setting up More Protected Areas
New Zealand is home to many protected aquatic species such as the Maui dolphin, and it has rich oceans which hosts many different types of ecosystems. Our EEZ is one of the biggest in the world, and at the Pine party we believe that the fishing industry is given to much freedom to fish where they like (Our maritime zones and boundaries, 2022). Which is why the Pine party is planning to protect more of New Zealand’s oceans, our policy is to protect 40% of New Zealand’s oceans.
References:
Hooper, E. (2022). What is bottom trawling and why is it bad for the environment? - Greenpeace Aotearoa. Retrieved 29 September 2022, from https://www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/story/what-is-bottom-trawling-and-why-is-it-bad-for-the-environment/
Seas at Risk. (2021). Benefits quickly outweigh costs of banning bottom trawling from Marine Protected Areas - Seas at Risk. Retrieved 30 September 2022, from
https://seas-at-risk.org/press-releases/benefits-quickly-outweigh-costs-of-banning-bottom-trawling-from-marine-protectedareas-
Our maritime zones and boundaries. (2022). Retrieved 30 September 2022, from
https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/environment/oceans- and-fisheries/our-maritime-zones-and-boundaries/