Stories of investment in the commercial fishing industry are demonstrating that the tide is turning on a difficult few years.
The fleet is renewing. Confidence is now at a level that at least four companies are in the process of building new vessels - and that is no small investment. Last week, Damon Cooper at Harbour Fish in Dunedin launched Elodie, a 16 metre potting and multi-use vessel at Carey's Bay to much fanfare.
The West Coast has been the recipient of a multi-million-dollar investment, mostly courtesy of the Provincial Growth Fund. New floating wharves have been put in at both Westport and Greymouth, and Greymouth has a covered slipway under construction.
Craig Boote of Westfleet, which is jointly owned by Boote and Sealord, is having the $6 million, 26 metre Te Rununga built in Nelson and expects that to launch late July. It will be one of only two longliners built in New Zealand and the biggest by nearly 10 metres.
The industry has long been concerned about an aging fleet, but regulatory and financial impositions have made investment back into infrastructure a difficult proposition.
Despite the challenges, some players have taken the risk and bet on new technology paying long term dividends. Sealord's Tokatu, and Moana's Santy Maria have both been rare builds in recent years.
Craig Boote says while everyone is suffering from crew shortages, he has found that above all else, including pay rates, a comfortable, modern vessel is the key to attracting and retaining staff.
The Industry Transformation Plan, launched for consultation last week, acknowledges this issue.
"Refreshing Aotearoa New Zealand's fishing fleet is a key part of the transition to an efficient and environmentally sustainable fishing industry. The age of the current fleet indicates investment is required, particularly in inshore vessels. Replacing older vessels with modern vessels would enable lower emissions, less impactful fishing methods and more attractive living quarters for crew across the industry. There were 840 active fishing vessels in this country in 2022 and the mean age of the vessels is 44 years. For the 169 vessels between 16-24 metres in length, 89 percent are older than 20 years and 25 percent are older than 50 years. Older vessels tend to have higher repair, maintenance, and fuel costs, are more difficult to retrofit with improved fishing gear, and have older-style living quarters."
The transition plan, developed with industry, NGOs, Government, and Iwi also offers a way forward.
"An inshore fleet renewal innovation project with a strong regional development focus has been developed by Northland Incorporated (Regional Economic Development Agency). A business case, funded by government, has been prepared and is an input into industry and government decisions on the project. The project proposes replacing 169 vessels that are 16-24 metres with 70-100 vessels based on a sister ship design. The sister ship approach would provide collective benefits to the industry through the development of expertise in the building and maintenance of these vessels. The project seeks funding and support from government and industry."
Investment in the industry not only demonstrates confidence in its future but also a willingness to embrace new, more efficient, and environmentally palatable new technologies".
Damon Cooper's new vessel is more fuel efficient and is fishing more sustainably. It was also built locally by DG Engineering and contributed to the Dunedin economy - as Westfleet's new vessel has contributed to the Nelson and West Coast economies.
When the seafood industry, already worth $5 billion to New Zealand, invests in its business, it is good for the entire country.
Some 17,000 people rely on the industry for work and a reinvigorated confidence in the industry's future can only benefit the wider economy and those whose livelihoods are tied to seafood.
The plan is here: Industry Transformation Plan
Submissions close 11 June, 2023
