Commission on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources CCAMLR

Monday 23 July 2007

Good evening. It's my pleasure to welcome you to Christchurch. I am delighted that CCAMLR (kammelar) have taken this opportunity to meet in Christchurch.

And I extend a very warm welcome to our guests from overseas, it is great to have you here in the Garden City.

We value the connections Christchurch has with the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. Whether historical, scientific, exploratory, or in a monitoring role, we view our connections as being important in ensuring the environmental, social and economic sustainability of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean is protected.

CCAMLR plays a vital role in ensuring that the fishery in the southern ocean remains sustainable, a sizeable task as the Southern Ocean covers about 15% of the world's total ocean surface.

As fisheries around the world have depleted, industrial fishing fleets have gravitated south and we have seen an explosion of interest in Southern Ocean fisheries in recent years. This has put tremendous pressure on the Patagonian toothfish in particular.

Krill, at the base of the Antarctic marine ecosystem, are part of a very long food chain that must be protected. Fish, birds, sea mammals, all depend on krill to survive. The question needs to be carefully considered, "is it sustainable to continue to harvest an important food source such as Krill for animal feed?"

There are too many examples of over-fishing and killing the golden goose, or should I say the 'golden cod'. The reality is that fish is a wonderfully healthy food for which there is a huge demand. It's this economic importance that is placing increasing pressure on the Southern Ocean fishery.

Like most people I want my children and children's children to be able to enjoy a plate of fish and chips and this means having in place measures that make the fisheries sustainable. This is the job that CCAMLR has been charged with.

There is no doubt the Southern Ocean and Antarctica are two of the harshest environments on the planet and both are highly vulnerable. They are environments that New Zealand has committed to protecting under the Antarctica Treaty.

I've been to Antarctica twice now. Both my visits have been eye opening and rewarding experiences. They have given me some insight and knowledge of the special conditions on the earth's third largest continent.

Christchurch has had a long and proud history of being involved in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean area and this year celebrates with Antarctica NZ and the Antarctic Society 50 years of being the launching pad of expeditions to that great continent.

NZ enjoys very close and amicable international working relationships and friendships with the US and Italy, on the Ice and in Christchurch, and Christchurch is the gateway to Antarctica for the US, Italian and New Zealand Antarctic programmes.

A study recently commissioned to look at the economic impact of our connections with Antarctica found that the direct benefit to Canterbury's economy is $87.6 million. $21.8 million of that comes from the region's involvement in the fishing industry.

As a city, we have long realised the importance of developing and maintaining relationships with key participants.

Over recent years Christchurch City Council has co-hosted the Antarctic Season Opening and has supported the Christchurch Antarctic Festival.

Our recent economic impact study has suggested Canterbury would benefit from an Antarctic advocacy and coordination office and a forum will be held in the near future to progress the strategic plan and engage the wider community of Christchurch and Canterbury in the business opportunities of Antarctica.

I trust your meetings here have been enlightening, beneficial, and provocative. I wish you well for the last few days and hope that we shall see you all here again in Christchurch for meetings in the future.

ENDS