Maori Party calls for ethical investment in fisheries

Maori Party Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson Hone Harawira says public scrutiny of Sealord's investments in north-west Africa is a good thing.

"We support the Sahrawi people's rights to self-determination in Western Sahara, and endorse the UN's calls for the illegal Moroccan occupation to end," said Mr Harawira.

“The International Court of Justice recommended in 1975 that the United Nations should continue to pursue self-determination for the Sahrawis, and yet for over thirty years the Sahrawi people have endured a harsh, alienating economic environment and social isolation," he said.

"Just as New Zealand has sought to honour its responsibilities as a global citizen in the Myanmar crisis, so too it is appropriate that we respect and support the opportunity for the Sahrawi people to be self-determining”.

"The Maori Party also supports the principles of fair trade and ethical investment. Given the clear risk that Sealord is involved in marketing fish caught illegally and unsustainably in Western Saharan waters by Moroccan interests, we would encourage Maori shareholders to raise the issue with Sealord's directors and encourage them to review their investment decision accordingly," said Mr Harawira.

Background:

Sealord and its Chilean and Japanese business partners in Europacifico market fish caught off Western Sahara for a Moroccan company, Omnium Marocain de Peche.

Western Sahara has been illegally occupied by Morocco for over 30 years, in defiance of the UN; and its resources, including phosphate rock imported by New Zealand, are exploited by Morocco.

The international coordinator of Western Sahara Resource Watch, García Lachica, says trade with NZ helps to maintain illegal Moroccan fishing settlements in Western Sahara, in violation of international law.

He says New Zealand and Europacifico involvement therefore goes completely against the UN’s efforts to find a solution to the Western Sahara conflict.