All fishing vessels plying their trade off the New Zealand coast will soon have cameras on board to ensure they're complying with the law.
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy said all the snapper industry now has cameras on board, and he is fast tracking moves for the rest of the fleet.
"We now move to the next stage of going as fast as we can on about 1400 vessels.
"You've got the cameras which is just one aspect, then you've got the whole back office hardware to ensure that we can track 24 hours, seven days a week what's happening."
It comes as authorities are being critiqued over the enforcement of illegal catch dumping rules and the release of a report alleging fish takes have been double official numbers.
My Guy acknowledges there has been some dumping of fish at sea, but says it's not as bad as recent reports have suggested.
"The reality is in my view, that's very, very small. We do have some ratbags in the fishing industry, like any industry, and I expect the regulator to go very tough on them."
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