2025 Seafood New Zealand Conference
Dawson & Associates attended the 2025 Seafood New Zealand conference earlier this month, this time held locally in Nelson. As always it was an excellent opportunity to connect with colleagues from around the industry, meet new people and hear about new and exciting ideas and initiatives taking place in New Zealand’s seafood sector.
Of particular note was the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries’ announcement that a suite of reforms would take place with the Fisheries Act, including to restrict the use of onboard camera footage to observer functions (as opposed to being able to be subject to an OIA request), and to allow for the setting of commercial catch limits for up to 36 months (rather than the current 12). These reforms will reinforce the use of onboard fisheries cameras to their core purpose (fisheries research, management, and enforcement), as well as reducing the scope for external litigation around annual catch limit determinations.
Other highlights included:
Leadership coach Harold Hillman’s presentation on the significance of engagement.
A fascinating insight into the nutritional benefits of seafood in people’s diets by Doctor Wendy Hunt and Professor Alexandra McManus.
ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner’s economic update on New Zealand in a global context.
Every speaker brought positivity and useful insight into New Zealand fisheries, with a broad scope of appeal across industry.
It is an exciting time to be working in fisheries, with significant developments happening even over the last 12 months. With such a broad range of research, technological trials and innovations, and policy developments, Dawson & Associates are looking forward to what the next year will bring.
As experts in the Fisheries Act and its associated regulations, quota and vessel management, incident response and fisheries investigations and prosecutions, Dawson & Associates are trusted advisors for many in the industry across a range of legal issues facing fishers. If you have a question about anything to do with fisheries law and its application, vessel operations and regulations, or are looking to sell or purchase a fishing vessel please contact Peter Dawson peter@maritimelaw.co.nz; +64 27 229 9624 or Troy Stade troy@maritimelaw.co.nz; +64 27 3686 730.