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Fishing Sector Action Plan marks growing partnership for safety

Thursday 16 August 2012, 12:52PM

By Maritime New Zealand

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The launch of the Fishing Sector Action Plan today (16 August) reflects an ongoing partnership to reduce the rate of injuries and fatalities in the commercial fishing industry, Maritime New Zealand General Manager, Maritime Services, Sharyn Forsyth said.

  • The Plan was jointly launched by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. Kate Wilkinson, and the Associate Minister of Transport, the Hon. Simon Bridges at Queens Wharf, in Wellington.
  • Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous jobs in New Zealand.
  • Nearly 7.5% of the approximately 7000 workers in the industry are injured in accidents each year – nearly twice the nearest sector (mining and quarrying).  Between 2001 and 2011, 33 fishermen were killed doing their job.
  • The Plan introduces a proposed new Maritime Operator Safety System, and Qualifications and Operational Limits Framework to tackle the issue from two directions.

 

The plan was prepared by Maritime New Zealand in partnership with FishSAFE, and with the support of the Accident Compensation Corporation and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.  (FishSAFE is a fishing industry-led industry/government partnership which aims to improve safety in the New Zealand commercial fishing sector.)

“Building on the foundation created by FishSAFE, the plan represents a partnership between the Government, employers and employees to make the industry safer,” Ms Forsyth said.

“The fishing industry has worked constructively to improve safety, in the in-shore fleet in particular. While there is still work to be done, this partnership forms a strong foundation for success.”

The Plan introduces a number of initiatives to improve safety, by:

  • improving crew competency, including proposed updates to the qualifications and operational limits framework (known as QOL)
  • ensuring Maritime Rules on vessels and equipment lead to improved safety
  • introducing a proposed a new safety management system, the Maritime Operator Safety System (known as MOSS)
  • getting better information on risks and injuries in the industry
  • improving communication to people in the fishing industry.

 

“What the safety system emphasises is that safety is something that must be considered every day.  It is not just a case of ensuring a vessel is safe when it is surveyed, the operator has a responsibility to make sure the operation as a whole is safe.”

Fishing Sector Action Plan