A survey of 28 countries, including the 20 countries that catch the most fish globally, found New Zealand, the United States, Iceland, Norway and Russia had the five best-managed fisheries.
The study was completed by Michael Melnychuck, a research scientist at the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences at the University of Washington, and three co-authors, and was published by Washington’s National Academy of Sciences.
The study found the three most important characteristics of a thriving fishery were the scientific assessment of the stock, limiting fishing pressure, and enforcing regulations.
Seafood New Zealand Chief Executive Tim Pankhurst said the study confirms his belief that New Zealand’s fisheries are properly managed.
“New Zealand’s Quota Management System is already recognized as one of the leading fisheries management systems in the world and it is good to have that reaffirmed in this paper out of the United States,” he said. “It is consistent with annual reviews of New Zealand fish stocks assessed by Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) scientists, which show 96.8 percent of our catch is from stocks that are sustainable.”
Pankhurst also noted that an estimated 70 percent of New Zealand’s deep-water catch has by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.
