NEW ZEALAND THOUGHTS ON UNGA FISHERIES RESOLUTION

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000699 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS EAP/ANP DRICCI AND OES/OMC DHOGAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIS SENV PHSA NZ SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND THOUGHTS ON UNGA FISHERIES RESOLUTION AND BOTTOM TRAWLING REF: SECSTATE 137745 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: GNZ is developing its official policy on the UNGA fisheries resolution and bottom trawling but is likely to support our position. GNZ is concerned that the UNGA and Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMOs) mandates may clash. Working level GNZ officials will provide more information on the GNZ position once it receives guidance from ministers, expected about September 10. End summary. ¶2. (U) On August 25, Poloff delivered reftel text to Felicity Buchanan, Deputy Director, Environment Division, MFAT, and on August 29 joined her on a previously arranged conference call with David Hogan, OES/OMC. ¶3. (U) Buchanan expressed appreciation for reftel points as a way to establish focus around the issue. She said that MFAT's Environment Division is taking the lead on GNZ's preparations for UN discussions on bottom trawling, in coordination with the Ministry of Fisheries, Department of Conservation, New Zealand's International Development Agency (NZAID),and the Treasury. They are aiming to get instructions from Ministers by September 10. ¶3. (U) Buchanan noted that bottom trawling is on the notional agenda for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in October in Suva and the second meeting of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO) in Hobart in November. GNZ is looking for a consistent position that does not conflict with the separate mandates of UNGA, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),and the several regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs). ¶4. (SBU) While there is still no official GNZ position, Buchanan predicted New Zealand would support the U.S. view. "New Zealand has been pretty vocal that the UN should do something about bottom trawling, and that RFMOs and Flag States should do something as well." She said that New Zealand would be open to the idea of a timetable as well as an FAO role. Buchanan also suggested that it might be less problematic for the UN to manage fisheries outside of the various RFMOs as there would clearly be no mandate overlap in that case. ¶5. (SBU) Buchanan does not expect to be at UNGA in October, but plans to come to New York in November when she anticipates that the text will be negotiated. She added that Jenny McIver, from the New Zealand Mission in New York, will represent New Zealand in at the October UNGA meeting. McCormick