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Most Green voters don't support ban on bottom trawling

5 September 2022

Media Statement

Most Green voters don’t support ban on bottom trawling

A survey shows just 7%, or 15,872 Green Party voters, support a complete ban on bottom trawling, which is almost the same number of people who ‘signed’ the Party’s recent open letter to the Oceans and Fisheries Minister, calling for the ban[1]

A poll by Curia in August, commissioned by Sealord, asked New Zealanders what percentage of seamounts should be protected by trawling, and if they supported Sealord’s proposal to end fishing on 89% of seamounts.

Results showed 61% of Kiwis support Sealord’s proposal, 15% are opposed and 24% were unsure.

The results show that Eugenie Sage’s open letter, the subject of a dedicated story by Stuff last Friday, is not representative of public opinion on this issue – and not even representative of Green Party voters.

The Curia Research survey asked (attached in full) asked: What percentage of seamounts would you be comfortable with New Zealand fishing?

The poll found that only 8% of New Zealanders want fishing on seamounts banned, while 67% are comfortable with fishing on 25% or more of New Zealand’s seamounts and 25% were unsure.

Respondents were also asked: To balance the competing priorities of conservation and food production, the fishing company Sealord has proposed that 89% of seamounts should be protected. Would you support or oppose this proposal?

Sealord’s proposal received cross-party support in the research, with approval from 64% of Green party voters and 69% of Labour party voters.

The poll was conducted by Curia Research from Wednesday 3 August to Thursday 11 August. A total of 1,200 eligible New Zealand voters agreed to participate, with a maximum sampling error of +/- 2.8 per cent.

You can see a short video here with people’s views about sustainable seamount fishing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcUDRRo9odU&ab_channel=Sealord

For further information, please contact: Annabel Kemplen - Sealord Public Affairs & Communications Manager. Ph. 021 241 9939

[1] Green Party vote 2020: 226,754. 7% of 22,754 = 15,872. Number of signatories of Green Party open letter; 16,552

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