Why bottom trawling could be a top issue in forming the next government
The political party Opportunity has made a ban on bottom trawling a condition for forming a coalition government. The proposal has sparked debate between environmental advocates and industry leaders concerned about the economic impact on the fishing sector.
Why it matters
Environmental policy is becoming a central bargaining chip in coalition negotiations, highlighting the tension between ecological preservation and industrial economic interests.
Bottom trawling could be a make or break policy when it comes time to form the next government.
Opportunity, which poll after poll has named as this election's kingmaker, says it won't form a coalition unless its partners agree to a ban.
Last week the party's leader Qiulae Wong set her terms for post-election negotiations .
"Opportunity will require an end to bottom trawling in sensitive areas, including the Hauraki Gulf , immediately. And we'll begin work to progressively phase it out completely," she said at the time.
Moana New Zealand chief executive Steve Tarrant said the suggestion was irresponsible.
"People believe you can just ban bottom trawling, or we can transition away from bottom trawling to another method, and everybody will be hunky-dory, right? That is far from the truth," he said.
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