Maersk will continue to ship New Zealand's seafood

Shipping company Maersk Line has clarified that it is still accepting all New Zealand seafood shipments made in accordance with local legislation and relevant export regulations.

The company is looking to refute a claim issued by Greenpeace last week that Maersk had decided to cease the shipping of several at-risk kiwi marine species, such as orange roughy and Antarctic toothfish. In fact, Maersk will only refrain from transporting illegal, unreported and unregulated fish.

"Maersk Line is currently reviewing its policy with regards to the future acceptance of seafood shipments and will undertake this review in conjunction with all stake holders," the company said. "In the meantime, the current acceptance policy remains in place."

In response to the media articles issued last week regarding Maersk's change in strategy, New Zealand Seafood Industry Council's Alastair Macfarlane said Greenpeace New Zealand had "seriously misrepresented Maersk's policy" when it believed that the company would no longer transport certain fish species.

On Friday (May 28), New Zealand's Ministry of Fisheries welcomed the firm's clarification.

Several media statements made on Thursday (May 27) declared incorrectly that Maersk was refusing to transport some New Zealand fish species, the ministry stated.

Ministry Chief Executive Wayne McNee assured seafood consumers and Maersk Line that all fish and seafood fished under New Zealand's "world class quota management system" is indeed sustainable and originates from well-managed fisheries.
 

"The Ministry of Fisheries manages all New Zealand's fisheries closely to make sure catches are sustainable," he stated. "It is important to us to make sure that fish will be available for future generations, we will not hesitate to take decisive management action to make sure that happens."

 
"New Zealand's Quota Management System has received praise around the world but we are constantly working to improve it," he continued. "Just this week the government announced a major boost to spending on research into deepwater fish stocks like orange roughy, with NZD170 million (US$115.3 million) being spent over the next 10 years."