16 Jun 2014

Marine standard 'would benefit Maori'

7:41 am on 16 June 2014

Sealord predicts tangata whenua could gain millions of dollars from deepwater species in New Zealand - achieving a marine sustainability standard.

Eighty percent of commercially caught deepwater fish, including hoki and southern blue whiting, have either achieved the Marine Sustainability Council certification or are being processed to gain the mark.

Sealord general manager of fishing Doug Paulin said iwi would reap up to $1.5 million a year from the standard because they had iwi fishing quotas and a stake in Sealord.

He said that meant Maori would get a cut of about 25 percent from all deep water species.

Mr Paulin said on top of that every fish the company caught, which achieved the certification meant an extra 15 to 30 percent more value.

He said that meant millions for the Maori economy.