Minister for Oceans and
Fisheries
Oceans and Fisheries Minister David Parker
today announced a ministerial inquiry into the use and
allocation of migrant labour in the seafood
sector.
“The inquiry will focus on the sector’s
reliance on migrant labour, and how to transition it away
from that reliance. It will also examine how to accelerate
efforts to attract more New Zealanders into rewarding jobs
in the seafood sector,” David Parker said.
“It
will take in all commercial seafood activities, including
deep-sea fishing, inshore fishing, aquaculture activities,
and seafood processing.”
David Parker said Covid-19
border restrictions had highlighted the sector’s
Press Release – New Zealand Government
Oceans and Fisheries Minister David Parker today announced a ministerial inquiry into the use and allocation of migrant labour in the seafood sector.
Hon David Parker
Minister for Oceans and Fisheries
Oceans and Fisheries Minister David Parker today announced a ministerial inquiry into the use and allocation of migrant labour in the seafood sector.
“The inquiry will focus on the sector’s reliance on migrant labour, and how to transition it away from that reliance. It will also examine how to accelerate efforts to attract more New Zealanders into rewarding jobs in the seafood sector,” David Parker said.
The inquiry is wide in scope, including deep-sea fishing, inshore fishing, aquaculture activities and seafood processing. Parker recognised that it would be very difficult for the industry to transition to a different workforce considering the position it had gotten to, but called for it to start making the change.
BRADEN FASTIER/STUFF
The Government is also planning an industry transformation plan for the seafood industry. It is estimated migrant workers in the commercial seafood sector peaked at 1850 in the year to March 2019, although there are likely to be fewer foreign workers now. Parker said the industry would have to focus on training and technology to attract more New Zealanders into the sector.