The union that represents over 2,000 workers in New Zealand's land-based fishing industry, The Service and Food Workers Union Ngā Ringa Tota, has welcomed Labour's fishing policy.
 
"Our union strongly supports the policy's commitment to encouraging maximum participation by Kiwis in our commercial fisheries and seafood processing," said SFWU National Secretary John Ryall today.
 
"It is a real step forward that the policy includes a specific reference to supporting value-added processing and a commitment that 50 per cent of all species harvested in our exclusive economic zone should be value-added processed on-shore in New Zealand."
 
John Ryall said thousands of jobs have been lost in the fishing industry in the past decade.
 
"Of particular concern is the loss of Maori jobs, as the industry has traditionally been a source of work and career path for Maori," he said. "With Maori unemployment close to 16 per cent, we need industry polices that will bring back those jobs."
 
John Ryall said the recent hearings for the Government Inquiry Into Foreign Charter Vessels had confirmed that not only can a substantial increase in employment be achieved through value-added processing in New Zealand's fishing industry, but also substantial economic value can be added.
 
"Processing the fish in New Zealand would dramatically increase the number of jobs in the fishing industry and our union strongly supports the policy of regulating for 50 per cent of our harvest being used this way to benefit New Zealanders," he said.  
  
 
AUTHORISED BY SERVICE AND FOOD WORKERS UNION, 35-39 GEORGE STREET, KINGSLAND, AUCKLAND