- Graeme Sinclair- TV host, Gone Fishin’
- Lisa Martin- General Manager, Sustainability Sanford Group
- Maru Samuels- General Manager, Iwi Collective Partnership
- Tamzin Henderson- business owner, photographer and blogger
- Anne Gabriel- Program Director, MSC
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) invites the public to attend a sustainable ‘green drinks’ event to celebrate World Fisheries Day on Tuesday 21 November from 6pm-9pm at the Sustainable Coastlines pop-up venue in the Wynyard Quarter, Auckland.
There are currently eight NZ fisheries certified to the MSC standard for sustainable fishing, comprising more than 50% of the country’s wild commercial catch, demonstrating a firm commitment to sustainability. The event brings a variety of community voices together to celebrate our local fishers and discuss the importance of sustainable fishing for future generations.
“Our oceans are a global shared resource,” says Anne Gabriel, Program Director for MSC Oceania. “Today we celebrate the collaborative work in New Zealand and globally, to ensure we have fish for future generations. It’s important to bring together the many voices working towards this common goal of healthy, thriving oceans.”
Speakers for the event reflect diverse experiences relating to fishing and seafood including, Graeme Sinclair, well-loved TV host, author and presenter, host of Gone Fishin’ TV series now in its 24th season, with over 600 episodes.
Other panel members include Lisa Martin, the General Manager of Sustainability for New Zealand’s largest seafood company, Sanford Group; Maru Samuels, representing Maori interests as General Manager for the Iwi Collective Partnership, and Tamzin Henderson, passionate birdwatcher, blogger and photographer from Marlborough. Anne Gabriel, Program Director for MSC Oceania will also join the panel, moderated by Trish Sherson, of PR Agency Sherson-Willis.
The event is free to the community, with sustainable seafood and beverages provided.
There are currently 324 MSC certified fisheries globally, landing 12% of wild marine seafood. Consumers wanting to do their part can look for products and restaurants that bear the blue MSC label.
Fisheries are assessed by third party, independent auditors against the MSC Standard which covers three core principles: fishery stock health, impact on marine environment and management of the fishery. MSC certified fisheries are continually monitored and must complete annual surveillance audits as well as being reassessed every five years. More than 1,200 improvements to fishing practices and environmental management have been delivered by MSC certified fisheries since 2000.