Chief Executive welcomes PPSC terms of reference

14 November 2002

The Ministry of Fisheries welcomes the inquiry into the management of the scampi fishery by the Primary Production Select Committee and will co-operate fully with the Committee, Chief Executive Warwick Tuck said today.

Mr Tuck said the terms of reference announced today by the Select Committee would ensure that matters raised by fishers and former staff over recent months would be fully addressed. It is particularly important that a full picture is provided as to date only one side had been seen of what is a very a complex issue.

"I have been deeply concerned at how publicity to date has reflected on the integrity of fisheries management, the Ministry and our staff. We have been caught in the cross-fire of competing commercial interests position-taking ahead of the introduction of scampi into the quota management system. Many millions of dollars in scampi quota are at stake.

"The Select Committee is an appropriate forum to ensure all sides of this story can be told," said Mr Tuck." The Ministry has been somewhat constrained in its response to date, but the Select Committee hearing provides the Ministry with the appropriate opportunity to redress the balance."

Mr Tuck said the Ministry had already taken steps to set up processes to provide all information required by the Select Committee. Much of this information dates back more than 10 years and pre-dates the establishment of the Ministry of Fisheries.

"It is clear that the Parliamentary Select Committee together with the State Services Commission inquiry running concurrently will help ensure that all relevant matters are considered.

"MFish has nothing to hide in its administration of the scampi fishery and we are looking forward to giving the Select Committee every assistance through the provision of information, making submissions and answering questions put to us."

Ends