New regulations are
changing the way New
Zealand’s commercial
fi sheries are managed and
monitored.
The regulations, which
require the use of geospatial
position reporting (GPR),
e-logbooks, and cameras
across the commercial
fi shing industry,
commenced rollout on
October 1.
Primary Industries
Minister Nathan Guy said
digital monitoring would
revolutionise the way
fi sheries management
decisions were made,
and help ensure the
sustainability of New
Zealand’s fi sheries.“It will give us arguably
the most transparent and
accountable commercial
fi shery anywhere in the
world,” he said.
“This new technology
will provide more accurate
and up-to-date information
allowing us to make quicker
and better-informed
management decisions.”
Digital monitoring
replaces the paper-based
catch and effort reporting
system for commercial
fi shing.
Fishers will be required
to provide more detailed
information in their
reporting and all data
will be integrated by the
Ministry for PrimaryIndustries (MPI) so that
what is reported can be
compared to the GPR data
and camera footage.
“The reality of the
industry has too often
meant that what happens at
sea has been out of sight,”
the minister said.
“We expect this new
system will act as a
signifi cant deterrent to
illegal activity, as the
information it captures can
and will be used by MPI
for prosecutions when the
rules are broken.”
The fi rst two stages of
digital monitoring – GPR
and catch reporting via
new e-logbooks – came in
from October 1 this year,with cameras phased in to
each fishery from October
1, 2018.
Trawl vessels 28m and
over already use the GPR
and e-logbooks from,
representing over 70 per
cent of the catch volume.
All other operators will have
a six-month period to install
the new systems.
“This is the biggest
change to the commercial
fi shing industry since the
introduction of the Quota
Management System,
and I have instructed
MPI to support the
industry to achieve full
implementation and
compliance over a six-
month period,” Guy said.NEW TOURIST CAT FOR THE KIMBERLEY
Cruising speed is 24kt, and
400L of fuel is split between
two tanks.
The catamaran has a
waterline length of 11.7m, and
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assisted by a pair of Side-
Power thrusters.
The package also includes a
15 tonne capacity, 3.5m wide
tri-axle trailer manufactured
by Cordina Marine sister
company Tough Ali Trailers.
For the traditional Bunuba
custodians, the Danggu
Dawangarri people, the
connection to this land
goes back to the Dreamtime
and this vessel, Miss Casey
Ross, is named after the late
matriarchal leader of the clan.
The artwork for the
boat, by Parks and Wildlife
Service’s Gwendolen
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of the Bunuba people by
including totemic animals like
ǡβǡ
red-tailed black cockatoos and
brolgas.
Geikie Gorge National
Park is to be renamed
Danggu National Park and
is jointly managed by the
Bunuba people and the WA
Government.A new tour boat took to WA’s
Fitzroy River during winter
this year when the Parks and
Wildlife Service launched Miss
Casey Ross for work in Geikie
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Located 20km from Fitzroy
Crossing in the Kimberley
region of WA, Geikie Gorge
is famous for its spectacular
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abundant wildlife, with boat
tours taking place from May to
October.
Built in Perth by Cordina
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12.7m aluminium catamaran
in survey for 90 people,comprising two crew and up
to 88 passengers.
Designed by Adam Schwetz,
the tour vessel displaces about
nine tonnes but managed to
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28kt on trials with power
from a pair of 200hp Honda
outboards.NZ ramps up digital fisheries monitoring
108 trade aboat.com.au
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