Just days after it was announced, the Government has done a U-turn on a controversial proposal to amend the Fisheries Act to remove minimum size limits for commercial fishers.
The proposal would have allowed commercial fishers to catch and sell undersized fish, such as snapper and tarakihi, to avoid waste. There was a backlash on the basis this would harm fish stocks by taking fish before they reached spawning maturity. Protests came from recreational fishers, environmental groups and the Green Party.
Both Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters have today taken credit for the removal of the clause.
In a post on X, Peters said he spoke to Shane Jones, the minister in charge, in response to feedback from recreational fishers concerned about the proposed changes "and how that would affect a large number of ordinary Kiwis".
"We decided to review this part of the legislation and use the select committee to remove this clause," Peters said.
"We believe in democracy, and the most important part of democracy is listening to the people. We are doing that."
Peters' post was followed nine minutes later by Luxon, who said his National Party had heard recreational fishers' concerns.
"That’s why this morning I spoke to New Zealand First Minister Shane Jones and he agreed to take out the sections of the Fisheries Amendment Bill that removes the minimum size limits," the Prime Minister said on X.
"As a recreational fisher, I share Kiwis' concerns on the impacts to juvenile fish stocks. We want to ensure our kids and grandkids have abundant fisheries for the decades to come.
"I know Kiwis still have some concerns, which is why we want the fishing community to submit to the Select Committee process on this Bill."
1News understood the Prime Minister's X post was issued in response to the one from Peters.
Peters claimed he decided with Jones last night at a dinner to drop the proposed minimum size catchments. He also said he spoke to Jones again this morning about his concerns – before the call with the Prime Minister.
However, it's understood the Prime Minister directly raised the matter with Jones on the call and informed him that National would not support it.
Matt Watson: 'War is far from over'
TV personality Matt Watson, a vocal critic of the changes, is glad to see common sense has prevailed. He says he’s exhausted after several days of fighting the proposal. Over the weekend, he says he had several MPs call to say they were getting numerous complaints from their electorates.
Watson told 1News, “the battle is won, the war is far from over”. He said the Fisheries Amendment Bill needed to be scrapped in its entirety to allow for all stakeholders, including recreational fishers and iwi, to agree what was best for New Zealand’s fish populations.
He added he’ was not fazed by any comments from the Fisheries Minister about his advocacy and just wanted all parties to keep the Fisheries Amendment Bill top of mind.
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