SPCA urges public to speak up on alarming proposed changes to the Fisheries Bill

The charity is submitting in opposition to the Bill in its current form, citing serious concerns about how it will weaken transparency of commercial fishing activities at sea.

Dr Christine Sumner, SPCA Senior Scientific Officer, says the organisation does not support the Bill as drafted.

“We recognise the intention of the Bill is to increase efficiency and certainty in the commercial fishing industry,” says Dr Sumner. “But we also need transparency and accountability for what happens to animals at sea.

The Fisheries Amendment Bill takes us backwards at a time when marine animals are under extreme pressures from human activities including the effects of climate change such as warming waters, heat waves, and water acidification, degradation and loss of habitat, and depleting prey stocks. New Zealand should be strengthening protections for marine animals, not weakening them.”

The Fisheries Amendment Bill, open for public submissions until 29 April, proposes wide-ranging changes to the Fisheries Act 1996. These include how catch limits are set and challenged, what fishers can do with fish they catch, and how fishing activity is monitored.

One of SPCA’s key concerns is the proposal to exempt on board camera footage from the Official Information Act.

“Excluding camera footage from public information requests removes an important layer of transparency and motivation to comply with reporting obligations,” says Dr Sumner. “Without independent access to this footage, it becomes much harder to understand what is happening to animals at sea and to ensure fishers are meeting their obligations to avoid unnecessary harm.”

Commercial fishers are required to report their catch and the number and types of protected species that interact with their vessels or gear. On-board cameras verify these reports, including how much fish is caught, how unwanted catch is handled, and the number of animals such as seabirds, turtles, sharks, and marine mammals that are injured or killed.

After a 2019 trial, installation of cameras on inshore commercial vessels was rolled out in August 2023.

Camera footage is encrypted, securely stored, and reviewed by the Ministry for Primary Industries, with strict measures in place to protect fishers’ privacy.

"SPCA appreciates the concerns about privacy, but current practices and rules in place to protect fishers are working and we see no need to restrict public access to camera footage,” Dr Sumner says. “Increased transparency protects the long-term viability and social license of industries, including commercial fishing.”

SPCA continues to advocate for on-board camera coverage across the entire commercial fleet. Unintentional capture of sharks, fish, seabirds, turtles, and marine mammals is not by itself an offence.

However, where bycatch animals remain alive after capture, allowing or causing them to suffer unreasonable or unnecessary pain, distress, or an inhumane death may engage legal obligations under animal welfare laws. Accurate reporting is important for understanding the scale of harm and identifying where commercial fishing poses a significant threat to species' survival.

“Without reliable data, we cannot make informed decisions about reducing bycatch and protecting vulnerable species,” says Dr Sumner.

“Transparency is not about blaming fishers—it’s about ensuring we have the information needed to protect animals and ensuring sustainable fishing practices.”

SPCA is encouraging New Zealanders who care about marine animal welfare to make a submission on the Fisheries Amendment Bill before the 29 April deadline. You can read more on our website including how to make a submission.