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Marine protection boost with on-board camera rollout

New Zealand's inshore commercial fishing fleet has reached a new milestone with a rollout of onboard cameras.

Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Rachel Brooking announced the first 23 boat cameras going live last month.

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“Initial installations on these 23 boats will be followed by a further 70 by the end of the year and up to 300 by early 2025,” says Rachel Brooking.

“These cameras join the existing activities used to monitor commercial fishing in New Zealand, including monitoring boat locations and the work of onboard observers.

“This is a significant step in monitoring commercial fishing in New Zealand and will improve transparency and accountability across the sector.”

Cameras have been prioritised on boats posing a higher risk to protected species of marine mammals and seabirds. Filming will only occur when fishing is taking place.

Brooking says people in New Zealand and worldwide increasingly demand evidence of sustainable fishing practices.

“As a Government, we share this desire, and we’re taking action. New Zealand’s cameras will increase the number of onboard cameras globally by around 15 percent.”

The rollout follows trials along the North Island’s west coast focused on protecting the Māui dolphin habitat, accompanied by bans on trawling across 12,000 square kilometres and bans on set netting over 32,000 square kilometres.

“Getting the remaining cameras onboard is a priority. I’m delighted to see this work go live,” says Rachel Brooking.

Photography: Knut Troim on Unsplash

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