Submission: Cost recovery for on-board cameras - Fisheries NZ discussion paper
About the consultation
Fisheries New Zealand is consulting on their cost recovery proposal for on-board cameras on fishing vessels. Fisheries NZ is proposing that from 1 October 2026, quota owners would be levied:
$4.8 million annually for camera equipment and footage review, allocated by stock-specific levies.
$0.2 million annually for Fishery Officer activities related to the cameras, spread across all quota owners via a general levy.
A key part of FNZ’s proposal is for the Crown to provide annual funding of $3.76 million for the on-board camera programme rather than cost recover this from the commercial fishing industry. The proposals would be implemented through amendments to the Fisheries (Cost Recovery) Rules 2001.
The parliamentary record makes it clear that when cost recovery was inserted into the Fisheries Act 1996, Parliament did not intend cost recovery to be optional. Cost recovery levies are now the only revenue paid by the fishing industry for exclusive access to a public resource.
Recent briefings to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries by Fisheries NZ make it clear that overall cost recovery levies have been falling in real terms since they were introduced in 1996/7. Levies are over $10 million per year below the level they would be if they had kept pace with inflation.
Summary of ELI’s response to the proposal:
In ELI's view the proposals and their rationale are seriously deficient and in ELI's view it is neither lawful nor fair for the Crown not to recover these costs from the fishing industry.
Consultation closes on October 31st. Click here to see the consultation page.