Industry defends trawling

The New Zealand Seafood Industry has denied Greenpeace claims that a ban on the fishing practise of bottom-trawling would stop the destruction of the ocean's eco-system, saying a moratorium could potentially destroy the country's seafood industry instead.

Greenpeace is holding a four-day meeting in Wellington from today where it will discuss the banning of bottom-trawling. Delegates from more than 20 countries are expected to attend the meeting at Te Papa, which will discuss setting up a South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation to protect marine species.

Chief executive of the NZ Seafood Industry Council Owen Symmans denied Greenpeace claims that bottom trawling destroys the ocean eco-system.

"Less than 10 per cent of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) has ever been bottom trawled, and even then the impact varies depending upon the nature of the ocean floor."

About $800 million of the $1.2 billion earned from the seafood industry in 2003 was from species caught by trawling and related methods in New Zealand, he said. Mechanisms had to be found to protect bio-diversity but there had to be a balance between sustainable utilisation and protection, he said.

"A total ban on bottom trawling would not achieve this, which was why it was important in the high seas to establish a regional fisheries management organisation in the South Pacific region to ensure a balance was achieved."

- NZPA