Report of the Ministerial Inquiry into the use and operation of Foreign Charter Vessels
This report examines allegations of mistreatment and underpayment of foreign crews on certain Foreign Charter Vessels that fish in the Exclusive Economic Zone under charter to New Zealand companies.
Widespread concern about the use of foreign charter vessels (FCVs)1 to fish in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)2 led to the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Minister of Labour convening a Ministerial Inquiry in August 2011. Among the issues of concern were allegations of trafficking and mistreatment of crews, complaints of underpayment of crew and other breaches of employment rules, questions about vessel safety standards and reported breaches of fisheries and environmental regulations. The Inquiry’s Terms of Reference appear in Annex A.
The principal objective of the Inquiry is to ensure that the operation of foreign owned and flagged vessels chartered by New Zealand fishing companies supports the following government objectives:
- protect New Zealand’s international reputation and trade access;
- maximise the economic return to New Zealand from our fisheries resources; and
- ensure acceptable and equitable New Zealand labour standards (including safe working environments) are applied on all fishing vessels operating in New Zealand’s fisheries waters.
The Panel was tasked with making recommendations relating to policy and legislative amendments and improvements to operational practices if it found that any of these objectives were being undermined.
The Quota Management System (QMS) was specifically excluded from the Panel’s Terms of Reference. The Terms of Reference also specified that it was not the purpose of the Inquiry to investigate particular situations or incidents involving FCVs.
