Fishing host Matt Watson accuses Shane Jones of favouring commercial industry ‘mates’

Representatives of the commercial sector say the intent of the proposal is not to target the species.

The melee over marlin is only one of 19 changes the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is considering. According to MPI’s documents, a “majority” of the latest tweaks were suggested by the commercial industry to “increase flexibility” and reduce costs.

Other proposed changes include:

Allow trawl, longline and Danish seine operators to sell 19 non-quota reef fish like boarfish, red moki and marble fish when caught in fishing zones 1 and 9, which make up much of the North Island.Give set net operators the right to use bigger nets. The proposal suggests a system to increase net sizes from 3000m to 4500m in open water.Make the maximum time set nets can stay in the water standard nationwide. It’s proposed net “soak times” be set to a maximum of 24 hours everywhere. This would allow fishers in the country’s most popular fishery, which includes the Hauraki Gulf and Northland’s east coast, to leave nets in the water longer.Review whether the present ban on Danish seiners fishing close to the South Island coast is fit for purpose.Matt Watson is dismayed at moves to benefit commercial fishing operators that he believes are at the expense of environmental protections. Photo / Annaleise Shortland

Watson believes the latest round of proposed changes is all about making it easier for the handful of big fishing firms to make a buck.

MPI’s rationale for allowing set netters to use bigger nets – a proposal put forward by the industry – is to “increase the efficiency of each [fishing] trip” because they can “deploy more gear”.

Watson said such policies are dangerous.

“The word efficiency is just saying ‘let them take more’, which would be fine if there wasn’t collateral damage,” he told the Herald.

The damage he’s referring to is the unintended catch involved in set netting – for example, when dolphins get snagged and die.

He believes allowing universal soak time limits for nets is a “lazy” blanket policy that will increase the chance of catching non-target or protected species.

He was also critical of plans to allow non-quota reef fish to be retained and sold by trawlers, Danish seiners and longliners in the upper north.

“It means that fishermen can be a little bit more sloppy with the ways that they’re targeting fish. These reef species are important to the reef and the ecosystem,” Watson said.

Tamar Wells is the inshore policy manager for Seafood New Zealand and says it wouldn’t make economic sense for longline fishers to start targeting marlin. Photo / Supplied.

However, Seafood New Zealand (SNZ) policy manager Tamar Wells said the proposal to allow fishers in the upper north to sell reef fish was simply an extension of what was already permitted in the rest of the country.

“At the moment they [commercial fishers in FMA 1 and FMA 9] have to put them back dead,” Wells said.

Set net fishers would still be barred from retaining or selling reef fish.

She said proposals for increasing the size of nets would increase efficiencies for those going offshore – trips that require more time and fuel.

“You’re better off going out there and having one big, long net than having to go out there twice, setting two short nets.”

Wells said only approved vessel could use longer nets and existing rules such as area closures, bycatch reduction plans and cameras would help mitigate risks posed to protected species.

On standardising soak times, she said it was about reducing complexities, while claiming there was no rationale for varying soak times in different fishing areas.

Investigative reporter Michael Morrah speaks with Matt Watson. Photo / Annaleise Shortland

Matt Watson says he isn’t anti-commercial fishing. Years ago, he was a commercial gill net fisherman working with his grandfather.

His granddad used to tell him “if it weighs, it pays” when he was hauling catch from the nets – an adage Watson thinks is more real now than at any time before in light of the planned rule changes.

But he’s become increasingly concerned about the future of New Zealand’s fisheries, which he says are a public resource.

Watson feels our fisheries have become controlled by big business, which he claims is primarily focused on making a dividend for shareholders.

Consultation has closed on the proposed amendments to commercial regulations, with Jones expected to announce a decision next year.

The changes come after other significant pro-industry reforms, such as the plan to stop the public from seeing camera footage of illegal activity on commercial boats.

Jones and NZ First have a long history of opposing cameras on boats.

Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Shane Jones signalled in February “the most significant reforms” of New Zealand’s fisheries for decades. Photo / Mark Mitchell

In February, surrounded by members of the commercial fishing industry, including Sealord chief executive Doug Paulin, Jones announced plans to stop the public from seeing video of breaches on fishing boats by banning the release of footage under Official Information Act requests.

Other changes taken to Cabinet would reduce the opportunities for public consultation when catch limits are set.

Quota owners will have the right to carry forward an increased amount of uncaught catch into another fishing year; there’s more flexibility to discard unwanted catch at sea, and the ability for fisheries decisions to be challenged in court will be reduced.

So, why the flurry of new rules that benefit the commercial fishing companies and their executives? Watson claims it’s simple – “because Shane’s mates with them”.

“Absolutely, we [New Zealanders] should be worried about that conflict,” he said.

Jones: ‘No one is ever going to cower me’

Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones describes himself as an apostle for the commercial sector. Photo / NZME

Jones has flatly denied Watson’s claim that he proposed the changes because he was friends with some commercial fishing executives.

The Oceans and Fisheries Minister – who last week dismissed Watson as having an “unhinged crusade against commercial fisheries” – didn’t deny he had mates in the sector.

But he told the Herald he was “not aware” of any occasion where he’d taken advice to Cabinet that didn’t follow the rules.

According to the Cabinet manual, ministers “must give fair consideration and due weight” to advice provided by officials when discussing options with Cabinet colleagues.

In his typically bombastic style, Jones referred to the spread of “misinformation” on 10 occasions during an interview with the Herald about fisheries law changes.

He said linking fishing policy to his fishing friendships was the subject of “scribbling” all over social media, but it had no merit.

“No one is ever going to cower me by spreading misinformation and scribbling all over Instagram. It’s just never ever going to happen,” Jones told the Herald.

Recreational anglers made their concerns known during the One Ocean protest across the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Photo / Anna Heath

He also said efforts to taint him because of his former roles – he was Sealord chairman from 2002-05 – were also a low blow.

“They mistakenly think that bringing historical connections into the modern position I hold is somehow going to intimidate me,” he said.

Jones didn’t deny the latest proposed changes represented a wishlist from the commercial industry, saying he engaged with the commercial sector “multiple times a year”, as he did with the petroleum and mining industries.

When asked why he didn’t engage with recreational advocacy groups such as Legasea, he said it was mostly officials from MPI who talked with them.

Jones did recall a “great meeting” with one of the group’s stalwarts, Scott McIndoe, who he “had a lot of time for” despite telling the Herald he didn’t agree with him.

He didn’t rule out more one-on-one huis with the recreational fishing sector.

“They [Legasea] have every opportunity to invite me to their meetings,” Jones said.

Will marlin be commercially targeted?

The most controversial proposal suggests allowing commercial operators to sell dead marlin, raising fears it could incentivise the species being targeted. Photo / Supplied

At the centre of the controversy over the latest proposed changes has been the country’s most iconic and sought-after game fish, the marlin.

For decades, catching one has been akin to the holy grail of fishing, especially for those who fork out big money for dedicated charter boat excursions.

If a commercial vessel catches one – they’re caught mainly by tuna longliners – they must by law be thrown back. The proposed rule changes mean if a marlin is caught and it’s dead, it can be kept and then sold.

MPI emphasises in its information pack on the proposed change that this doesn’t mean commercial fishers will end up targeting marlin – a claim Watson says is “bulls***”.

Matt Watson fears the proposed tweaks allowing commercial fishers to sell marlin will lead to the sought-after species being deliberately targeted. Photo / Annaleise Shortland

Watson points to 1991 rule changes with swordfish – a different species to marlin – that allowed commercial fishers to land and sell swordfish, but only if caught accidentally.

Prior to this, domestic longline tuna fishers were required to release all billfish, including swordfish, regardless of the circumstance.

After the rule change, “bycatch” or mistaken catch of swordfish by commercial tuna fishers increased significantly. Then, in 2004, the species was added to the Quota Management System and that legitimised catching, keeping and selling the species.

Watson fears we’re heading down the same path of mismanagement with marlin.

MPI says it would closely monitor the situation and if marlin catch rates shot up and camera footage or observers noticed skippers actively targeting them, “further management action would be considered”.

Watson doesn’t accept such assurances.

“They [MPI] didn’t do it with swordfish. They rewarded the guys taking them by giving them quota,” he said.

Shane Jones pictured with a 305.9kg blue marlin he caught in 2015 while on a charter boat.

Jones told the Herald allowing commercial operators to land and sell dead marlin caught incidentally seemed like a good idea because the present rules mean they’re just dumped at sea.

“Do we throw all of the tucker back in the ocean, which is currently what we do, or do we bring it back for human consumption?” he said.

Jones did, however, accept the recreational sector had “genuine fears” and promised to engage with the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council before making any decisions in the new year.

He said claims that commercial fishers would deliberately target marlin amounted to “catastrophising” the issue.

“That’s an allegation that they’re making, and I really don’t want to pour fuel on to the war of words between the recreationalists and the commercial sector,” Jones said.

Seafood New Zealand says surface longline operators catch about 240 striped marlin annually, with about 60 put back dead each year.

Wells said targeting marlin would not make sound economic sense given longliners were chasing “high-value” tuna.

“In order to get more dead marlin, they would need to be sacrificing their tuna catch, which would absolutely not be a good idea,” she said.

Wells said it was “not the intent” of fishers to target marlin and catch rates would be carefully monitored.

‘It’s going to put me out of business’

Skipper Andy McGaughey has been a charter boat operator in the Bay of Islands for more than 40 years. Photo / Annaleise Shortland

For Andy McGaughey, one of the Bay of Islands’ original charter skippers, there’s nothing exaggerated about the fears he and others hold for marlin amid the planned changes.

The 63-year-old, who has been taking people out game fishing for more than 40 years, says fishing is a huge part of the Bay of Islands economy.

“Most of my customers come from overseas, so they’re buying an airfare, they’re paying for accommodation, they’re paying for restaurants, they’re paying for shopping,” he said.

When interviewed by the Herald, McGaughey had his vessel, Wahoo, out of the water in Ōpua where he was paying yard fees for it to be reconditioned before a fully booked season.

McGaughey says fishing is a critical part of the Northland economy. Photo / Annaleise Shortland

He said marlin fishing had slowed down in recent years and the last straw would be further pressure from commercial longliners.

McGaughey doesn’t accept the argument that allowing commercial boats to sell dead marlin is all about reducing waste.

“We don’t need that extra pressure, and I’m sure the numbers [of marlin caught and sold by commercial operators] will increase,” he said.

He caught five marlin last year during what he said was a “hard year”, and said every fish he caught was tagged and released.

McGaughey is certain if commercial operators can get money for selling marlin, they won’t be letting them go.

Amid moves to legitimise their commercial sale, he fears for his future and the livelihoods of others in the Far North.

“I don’t want this to happen because it’s going to put me out of business.”

McGaughey urged Jones to “listen to the people” rather than the dollars – a plea Jones is conscious of as he deliberates the next move.

“If it comes to pass that it’s a molehill politically speaking, not worth dying on, then people will know where we stand in that regard,” Jones said.

Another reason to ponder the plan could be MPI’s latest stock assessment, which shows 19 stocks or sub-stocks are overfished.

The striped marlin is included in the list.

Michael Morrah is a senior investigative reporter/team leader at the Herald. He won News Journalist of the Year at the 2025 Voyager Media Awards and has twice been named Reporter of the Year at the New Zealand Television Awards. He has been a broadcast journalist for 20 years and joined the Herald’s video team in July 2024.