Animal Welfare Act review 2012
Introduction
In August 2012 the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) released a discussion paper, Animal welfare matters. Proposals for a New Zealand Animal Welfare Strategy and amendments to the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
In September 2012 the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council (NZSFC) submitted that animal welfare does matter. Also, that it was important to rely more on science-based assessment rather than emotive or animal rights based assessment of welfare of animals and proposals for welfare legislation.
The Council believes there are welfare gains to be made with better catching, handling and dispatch of fish caught by amateur fishers.
FishCare
The Council and LegaSea supporters are working on a Best Practice Guide to help educate fishers to take a responsible approach to animal welfare and to make good use of the fish they catch and keep.
As a first stage in developing the guide and to inform this submission the Council commissioned a nationwide survey of people’s attitudes to animal welfare and fish. There were 2581 survey respondents. The results show that most fishers would read a guide and would change their behaviour to achieve better welfare outcomes for fish.
The feedback from the survey has informed the development of FishCare – The school of best practice. The project promotes best practice techniques to help recreational fishers reduce their impact on our marine environment.
Relevant information
2013
Submission
Submission. Animal welfare amendment bill. NZSFC. 4 Oct 2013
Submission to the Primary Production Select Committee considering the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill. This submission summarises the main points made in the substantive 2012 submission. NZSFC. 4 October 2013
2012
Submission
Submission. Animal welfare Act review. NZSFC. 28 Sept 2012
Submission agreeing that animal welfare matters and that it is important to rely on science based assessment rather than emotive or animal rights based assessment of animal welfare. Support the continuation of the provision that exempts killing fish from the full provisions of the Animal welfare Act. Submission by the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council. 28 September 2012.
Proposal
Animal welfare Act review. MPI. Aug 2012
Proposals for a New Zealand Animal Welfare Strategy and suggested amendments to the Animal Welfare Act 1999. MPI. August 2012.