New Zealand Seafood Industry Serious About Reducing Impacts on the Seabed

Keynote speaker at the conference, Glenn Blackwood’s presentation ‘Reducing Impacts of Fishing on Seabed Fauna’ was well received by the delegates says New Zealand Seafood Industry Council CEO Owen Symmans.

Mr Blackwood, from the Marine Institute of the Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada, dealt with the scope of the issue from an international perspective, including market forces, and identified potential solutions to the problem using examples such as seabed mapping technologies and the development of fishing gears that minimise the impact on the seabed.

“The impact of fishing on the seabed presents challenges that are greater than those of the past because the impacts are difficult to measure and the solutions have yet to be developed. It is in the interests of everyone to address these issues,” said Mr Blackwood. “Many studies have been done [on the impacts of fishing on the seabed] - maybe now the time is ripe to move towards the ways in which fishing gear can be modified to reduce impacts.

“I believe that to make the greatest difference we need to fish smarter and use technology. Technology that ten years ago was only found on research vessels is now on fleets - it is enabling us to reduce contact with the seabed and monitor what is going on.

“It is driven by demand, and what we are seeing now is demand to be able to harvest the ocean in a more selective and environmentally friendly manner. Demand will pull the technology down to the ocean and give us the ability to know what's happening under the water. This is the last unexplored frontier. The capacity is there for the industry that can lead to more understanding, and the opportunity to reduce the impact of fishing on the seabed.”

Fishing companies met with Mr Blackwood after the conference to discuss the opportunities and methods that are available.

“The industry is seriously interested in this issue and what Glenn had to offer. That was the reason for inviting him as a keynote speaker,” said Mr Symmans. “Many of the measures Mr Blackwood described have already been adopted by the New Zealand seafood industry. New technology has enabled fish to be targeted selectively and trawl gear controlled so that today’s bottom trawling is indeed a sustainable practice,” he said.

“Modern fishing techniques and technology are part of the necessary mix that the industry uses along with comprehensive management and control regimes to ensure that fishing and its effects are environmentally sustainable.”