Paua divers. (Photo: The Paua Industry Council)
Industry praises financial aid for paua fishermen
NEW ZEALAND
Wednesday, July 19, 2017, 03:00 (GMT + 9)
Seafood New Zealand has welcomed the financial assistance package announced by the Government for the Kaikoura commercial paua divers, who have been under considerable financial stress since last year’s earthquake.
The grant, amounting to NZD 520,000 (USD 380,906), was announced by Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy and Minister of Finance Steven Joyce and was designed to help the town's paua fishing community back on its feet.
“Primary industry businesses are often supported with financial aid in tough times and, with this package, Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy has recognised the seafood industry’s importance to the local community and economy,” pointed out the firm’s chief executive Tim Pankhurst.
Currently, a harvest ban on paua, stretching along 100 kilometres of coastline – from Cape Campbell to the Conway River – is in place where large areas of important juvenile habitat was left exposed by last year’s earthquake.
“The divers have been supportive of the harvest ban and acted responsibly in voluntarily shelving quota so they don’t put unnecessary pressure on the rest of the fishery,” Pankhurst stated.
The bulk of the fund (NZD 360,000) will be distributed as grants for affected commercial paua fishers in Kaikoura, with money also pledged for community-based support and recovery of the paua population and researchers on the possibility of performing new stocks.
Jason Ruawai, chairman of PauaMAC3, which covers the Kaikoura area, said the earthquake's impact was still being felt and it was vital to get this support for the local paua industry.
The 7.8-magnitude disaster uplifted seabed along the east coast up to 5 metres and drastically altered intertidal zones.
A ministry proposal could close the paua fishery indefinitely from Marfells Beach in Marlborough to Conway Flat, south of Kaikoura until scientific research was completed.
Such a closure could be in place for up to 10 years along the quake-hit coastline, and was still being investigated.
Related article:
- Shellfish and seaweed fisheries closure extended in earthquake affected area
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