KEY POINTS:
Maori investors who control much of the New Zealand fishing industry say they are concerned that environmental lobby the Forest and Bird Protection Society continues to criticise the sustainability of the nation's hoki fishery.
Forest and Bird said this week the hoki fishery avoided being stripped of its Marine Stewardship Council sustainability rating only because of procedural issues.
Forest and Bird advocacy manager Kevin Hackwell said an independent panel - made up of international experts - agreed the fishery did not merit the sustainability tick.
The hoki fishery received an overall passing score "by the skin of its teeth", the panel said.
"Taking a holistic view to the overall state of the hoki fishery, the panel sees some validity to the objectors' position that this is not a fishery that should be certified as sustainable."
But Te Ohu Kaimoana chief executive Peter Douglas said hoki was an important species to the economic well-being of New Zealand's fishing industry "as well as Maori".
"It is a concern to Maori investment that Forest and Bird continues to pour cold water on the achievement and to undermine the New Zealand fishing industry," he said. "We will be fishing for another 1000 years."
Te Ohu Kaimoana is the Maori fisheries trust, which holds all the shares in Aotearoa Fisheries Limited (AFL), which in turn holds around half the total value of Maori fisheries assets and is estimated to be worth at least $350 million.
AFL executive chairman Robin Hapi said all "reasonable-thinking Kiwis" would welcome the achievements of the industry.
"There may be some individuals who want to rubbish this decision because they are anti-fishing," he said.
Mr Hackwell said the hoki certification was flawed: the NZ catch had fallen from 250,000 tonnes a year in 2001, when the fishery was first certified, to 100,000 tonnes.
- NZPA
