Seafood industry in Nelson needs hundreds of workers

The fishing industry in the top of the South Island is crying out for workers with hundreds of roles needing to be urgently filled. Photo / 123RF

By RNZ

The fishing industry in the top of the South Island ihas hundreds of roles needing to be urgently filled and is urgently crying out for more workers.

The Nelson Regional Development Agency has joined three of the largest fishery companies to launch a campaign to fill the roles.

Development Agency regional development and attraction manager Hannah Norton said Nelson has the biggest fishing port in Australasia and the sector was critical for the area.

Each of the three companies had hundreds of roles available, seasonal and permanent, she said.

"For the upcoming hoki season there is definitely an urgency to get the workers in, but since the Covid lockdown began there have been roles not being filled due to the lack of overseas workers. But right now the timing is around that critical seasonal influx."

The companies are recruiting now for the hoki season, which runs from May to September.

Some of those roles could progress into permanent work, Norton said.

In previous years the roles were often filled by visiting travellers.

The roles are based in Nelson, Motueka, Blenheim and Havelock with jobs on boats and on land.

People can register for work on the Catch a Job website.

The website is aimed at making the process as easy as possible. People register basic information, which would be passed to the seafood companies who then come back to applicants about roles they may be suitable for, Norton said.

There were roles for people new to the sector and experienced people, she said.

"There is learning on the job, so it's definitely open to anyone looking for something new, and if you are experienced there are a range of roles they could fit into too."

The website launched on Thursday and Norton said she knew some people had already been offered interviews.

- RNZ