NZ parliment passes reflagging law on final day; all foreign charter crews subject to NZ laws
SEAFOODNEWS.COM by John Sackton Aug 1, 2014
On the final day of the New Zealand Parliment, the reflagging bill - called the Foreign Charter Vessels and Other Matters - passed with a unanimous vote.
The bill will require that all fishing in New Zealand waters be done by New Zealand flagged vessels, and companies such as Sealord say they are well on the way to reflagging some of the vessels they have used for many years.
The passage was unexpected because until recently the Maori party had demanded an exemption for Maori quotas, but that demand was dropped. Tuna vessels are also included under the legislation.
The impetus for the bill was exposure of labor abuses by foreign charter agents of crew on board vessels chartered to fish in New Zealand waters..
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