New Zealand’s commercial fishing industry is worth NZD 4.18 billion ($3.11bn) to the New Zealand economy, according to a press release from economic researchers BERL.
The figure includes fishing and seafood harvesting for deep water, inshore, highly migratory species and shellfish, but excludes aquaculture, which has revenues of another NZD 500 million.
For New Zealand’s inshore fishery, snapper is the top commercial catch, while rock lobster and paua are the highest value shellfish species. The largest deep water commercial catch was of hoki, accounting for 38% of the deep water fisheries value.
Seafood processing (excluding aquaculture) is also a significant contributor to the economy and employed 9,356 full time employees.
CEO of Fisheries Inshore New Zealand, Jeremy Helson, said the report confirms the importance of commercial fishing to New Zealand.
The Ministry for Primary Industries says exports alone are expected to reach NZD 2.3bn by 2025. Add the contribution to the domestic market through jobs, investment in infrastructure and the sectors supporting the industry and you have a significant contributor to the New Zealand economy.”
2017 Undercurrent News