By NICOLA BOYES
A stoush between New Zealand commercial fishermen and Russian trawlers contracted to work for New Zealand fishing companies has the potential to turn ugly, say those in the industry.
New Zealand-based commercial fishermen are questioning the operation of Russian trawlers off New Zealand's West Coast, saying they are not
being monitored properly and have the potential to seriously damage fish stocks.
The situation has escalated to local fishermen forcing the much larger trawlers to give way to them at sea.
Raglan-based operator Mark Hartstone said the situation was getting ugly.
"The fishermen are starting to play games."
He said boats would be on a collision course and local fishermen would signal a red light, forcing the trawler to give way to them.
This was confirmed by two other contractors who did not want to be named for fear of losing work.
An Auckland-based independent fishing contractor said the trawlers had up to 60 people working on them and the capacity to stay at sea for three months at a time.
"There's five out there [off the Piha coast] and those things are towing huge nets, nothing like our guys tow."
He believed Ministry of Fisheries officers needed to be on board the trawlers monitoring the fish coming up the ramps.
Another contractor said the trawlers were fishing in areas where snapper went to spawn, damaging stocks.
He said they were putting New Zealand contractors out of business.
Ministry of Fisheries spokesman Alan Meek said the Russian fishing trawlers were being closely monitored.
He said the issue had arisen because the trawlers had moved further north up the West Coast into areas where they were not often seen by fishermen.
"For all intents and purposes they are fishing legally under quotas."
He said the Ministry of Fisheries had significant surveillance of the boats while at sea and their catch was monitored when they reached port as well.
Planes had flown over taking pictures of them.
