KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's biggest fishing companies are calling for further cuts to the hoki quota to pre-empt government action but they refuse to acknowledge their industry may be one of the reasons the country's biggest commercial fish species is in decline.
Sealord, Aoetearoa Fisheries and Sanford have called for the 2007/08 quota to be cut to 80,000 tonnes - the most drastic of three options put forward by the Ministry of Fisheries - from the current level of around 100,000 tonnes.
Acknowledging action is needed to protect a fishery worth $156 million last year, the companies insisted environmental factors were the major reason stocks were dwindling and not overfishing or destructive fishing practices.
The government welcomed their "cautious" approach, but noted that causes besides climate - such as fishing methods and the amount of fish caught may also be involved.
The companies also want to boost the proportion of the quota taken from the eastern hoki fishery - which includes the Chatham Rise and Cook Strait - from 60 per cent to 75 per cent, to take pressure off the depleted western fishery, off the West Coast of the South Island.
The Ministry of Fisheries found eastern hoki stocks to be above the target level in 2005, but notes that most hoki spend their early years around the Chatham Rise, where the companies want to refocus their activities.
The ministry said hoki was caught mainly by mid-water trawling during late winter spawning off the South Island's west coast and in the Cook Strait, with the majority caught by bottom trawling on the Chatham Rise outside of that period.
Since 2001 the hoki quota has been progressively cut from about 250,000 tonnes to 100,000 tonnes due to falling numbers of young fish.
The companies cited Niwa research which suggested changing climatic patterns were the key factor in the declining number of young hoki.
However, the ministry has expressed concern at the impacts of bottom trawling in the hoki fishery.
Robin Hapi, chairman of Aotearoa Fisheries and Sealord, the biggest hoki quota holder, denied over-fishing was to blame for the state of the western hoki fishery and said environmental factors such as La Nina may be the cause.
"Scientists believe it is primarily climatic conditions that are affecting the recruitment of the stock of juveniles into this fishery," he said.
Companies usually fished within the quota management system with a total allowable commercial catch that was set at sustainable levels, he said.
"We're keen to ensure that the fish stock remains sustainable and this is one of the hard decisions that we think is necessary in order to ensure not only the continued viability of ours businesses but that these fisheries are around for future generations to benefit from."
He admitted cutting the quota further would impact on the major companies' business.
"There's going to be less fish to sell."
But such a measure would help rebuild the fishery, although how long that would take was a big unknown.
"Not only are you reliant on good recruitment occurring to ensure the fishery is able to build to a sustainable level but there are environmental factors over which you have no control.
"If fishing did not occur then the fishery would be at its original state; the fact is fishing does occur but occurs within the constraints of the quota management system.
"Despite the efforts made by the industry to reduce the quota over the years there has still not been sufficient recruitment to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the fish stocks. And we're advised that is affected primarily by environmental factors."
Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton welcomed the companies' approach but said he had yet to be advised by the ministry on research into the effects of the quota cuts, and could not comment on the outcome of the consultation on the hoki management options, which runs until July 27.
"The attitude they're displaying in terms of being cautious is the very attitude I have been urging for some time on the industry so I'm pleased to see that general view."
Climate could be involved in the decline of the hoki stocks, but several other factors were also likely to be involved, he said.
"The method of fishing and quantity of fish taken all probably come into it."
The companies' decision to call for the fishing industry to support lowering the quota comes despite Sanford reporting improved hoki sales last year.
