A marine expert has defended the use of cameras on commercial fishing boats, as the Government announces their review of the rollout.
Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced yesterday he was looking into the camera-on-vessels policy, saying he wants fisheries management to be "better, more focused and robust".
Jones said the money was already spent and the rollout of cameras would not be reversed but a review would take place before any extension of cameras.
Speaking to Breakfast this morning, University of Otago marine zoologist Liz Slooten said it would be "a shame" if cameras weren't further deployed.
“Because, we’ve had some big surprises already,” she said. “The amount of bycatching trawl nets is much higher than anyone had expected – there have been six in just a few months.
"It’s critical that that work continues."
Not every vessel is equipped with cameras, and Slooten said, as a result, "we still don’t know how many Maui dolphins are being caught in the North Island west coast".
She said observer coverage wasn’t wide enough and cameras allowed authorities to properly assess what was happening on boats.
Jones has raised concerns about having cameras in private workplaces.
However, Slooten compared the cameras to those on the roads and in supermarkets, saying "you respect it".
"I’m not too keen on speed cameras, I’ve been caught foul on a number of occasions – but I’m pleased there is a speed limit and there are people keeping an eye out."
She said fisheries had a choice: “It’s either cameras or observers.
"You could argue that if the fishermen had reported all the hundreds of dolphins they’d caught over the years, then maybe we wouldn’t need cameras now."
She said changing to “selective sustainable” fishing methods was the best option to stop dolphin deaths – and cameras would’t be needed.
"At the moment, they are mining dolphins and mining fish."
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