Lisa Futschek: Seafood New Zealand CEO on the delay of the Fisheries Amendment Bill

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · Jun 18, 2026 · 4m · transcript

A fishing industry lobby group says the Government's decision to press pause on changes to fishing laws will be a missed opportunity.

Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has confirmed a bill, easing restrictions on the industry, won't be passed before the election.

The Government had already scrapped controversial plans to reduce minimum size limits for commercial fishers.

Seafood New Zealand Chief Executive Lisa Futschek told Andrew Dickens this legislation was put in place in 1996 and needed an update.

She says the bill has been shrouded in misinformation, and the benefits of the changes have…