| This page contains comments from members of the public who felt strongly enough to put fingers to keyboard |
| Last updated 14 November 2000 -----------------------<=Back to latest comments |
| "This is yet another example of the Govt trying to police problem and NOT police the cause. If they took a decent look at the cause they would see the greedy and unscupulous commerical fisherman and 'poachers' (ie trawlers illegally fishing in NZ waters) are going to cause far more damage to this valuable pasttime than any group of recreatiional fishers. 'Pull your head out of the sand' and attack the CAUSE." ....Gary Whitaker |
| "I have been a recreational fisherman for 60 years and I certainly want my chidren's children to enjoy the same advantages as I have had living in this beautiful country, in particular with regard to the right to fish and gather shellfish in our coastal waters with the only restriction being as to a limit on the species taken." ....Fraser Sim |
| "I am deeply disturbed by the proposed action to amend fishing rights which will disadvantage the recreational fisherperson within New Zealand. With carefully managed control of commercial operators the recreational fishers will be able to enjoy their pursuits and so will their childrens children. If managed fishing is to include the licensing of individuals, or clubs so that fishing becomes an "exclusive hobby" that has the potential of elimating New Zealand citizens from enjoying their rights without harm to others.......it's time for each individual to support option4 to maintain the quality of life of our future generations. Come on New Zealanders, wake up." ...Jack Jansen |
"We all have a right to free recreational use of this magnificant country. Tell the "top brass" to take up fishing, they might find that they enjoy themselves and can understand why other nz's enjoy it!"
...Ronald Wood |
| "Thanks. Good to see somebody is looking after the average Joe Bloges and standing against what could be another speed camera. option4 has my full support. Well done!" ...Russell Thomas |
| "Options 1-3 are like putting the lunatics in charge of the asylum. Here is just one example of countless others. It is fairly common knowledge that a year or 2 ago a trawler overloaded and broke it's net in the Hauraki Gulf. The result was 100tonne of dead Snapper. This was also 2 WEEKS BEFORE SPAWNING!!! With the commercials employing these management stratagies there will be no fish left to divide between parties. In one act the skipper has wiped out countless future breeding stocks. Also needed to be looked at is the devastation that current practices inflict on the entire food chain. I believe that inside the EEZ 200km limit of NZ, have longline harvesting using hooks designed to reduce both undersize and gut captures, NO NETS AT ALL INSIDE 200km. Pirate boats of any nationality to be sunk after ignoring calls to cease theft of OUR resource. No commercial harvest of fin fish within 5km of any shoreline(not including licensed charter operations). I am not trying in way to gloss over the despicable acts of so called fishers who deliberately take or sell fish with no regard for the rules, with the current penalties and level of enforcement it is no wonder that they do it. It is though that the sheer size of commercial operations decimate the stocks and those that depend on them for both food and to regulate their own population size. The prime example of the tactics used both on and off the water by large commercial interests is the Giant Bluefin Tuna, where in the Northern Hemisphere most fish are caught and sold before they are old enough to reproduce. This hardly sounds sustainable. However, a scientist in Japan has sucessfully bred them in captivity for later release to the open ocean. This, people is the answer, if the commercial fishers want to harvest as many as possible, make them develop farming techniques. Must be cheaper than all those big boats. Maybe then, we can all 'take a kid fishing.'" ...Blair Iorns |
| "I want to be able to catch lots of fish when I'm older even if I don't want to eat them You can't fish for sport or fun when there are hardly any left to catch. I think Option4 is the best idea to make sure this happens." ...Skye Ross |
| "Any proposal to pay for recreational fishing licences is disgraceful. If money is required to manage recreational fishing well we already have vast amounts of tax sucked out of our pockets by GST on fishing tackle, bait, boats, engines and accesories. But thats not the worst of it most boaties fish and most boats are powered by petrol engines and the tax on this petrol that is taken to pay for roads and the consolidated fund is enormous. The boat owner gets nothing for this tax. Most of the launching ramps and carparks are substandard and we have a coastguard that has to run on chook raffles. Here in NZ we have the highest boat ownership per capita in the world that means that rec fishers and boat owners need to be listened to by govt." ....Lyall Cowin |
| "I cannot believe that successive governments are acting in this manner. Can they not see what is happening. A couple of years ago when the regional proposals were called for regarding the Hauraki Gulf I was told that I was A conservationist & to go away. Now we must fight these MONGRELS & not let them steal our kids future." ...Warren Davis Stanley |
| "As a fifth generation white New Zealander, and keen New Zealander I do and will continue to oppose any attempt to take away my traditional right to fish. The investment in recreational fishing is already under threat through low allowable catches." ...Shane Kelly |
| "I believe that as a New Zealander, it is my birthright to be able to fish for a meal for my family. I was brought up to conserve the fishery and only to take mature fish and only enough for our immediate requirements. Commercial greed is what destroys a fishery. " ...Dudley Greenaway |
"We need to stand up and be counted NOW if we want our rights to fish to survive."
...Kelvin Maine |
| "I support the option4 ideology that the fishery belongs firstly and foremost to the fisherpeople of NZ. The govt. does not have the right to allocate the fishery the way it has been without consulting us the major stake holders.The commercial fishers' allocation needs to be based on realistic sustainable levels. If the fishery becomes endangered in any area there must be restrictions to protect/preserve it and must be mandatory and applied to all equally. The protection/recovery of the fishery is of prime importance. All offenders must face equal justice. " ...Dale James Rawcliffe |
| "I am a eighth generation NZlander and firmly believe we as nationals have the rights to fish for food and pleasure as our fore-fathers have done so since time itself began.We should not be dictated to by any higher authority to deprive us of our God given right.On the current system of a daily bag limit,I think it is fair to say that only a small proportion of recreational fisherman would actually take their limit on any given day. And the concern should be more looked upon in the commercial sector as they are the ones that come in close at night to our shores and create turmoil as they strip us of our marine life. Look at the incident when whole snapper were washed up on our east coast beaches dumped by commercial fisherman due to a matter of size and looking at the profit margins they would make on a certain size of fish, NOW ASK yourself WHO is the real threat to OUR marine life and there numbers." ...Paul Morris |
| "I have been fishing so many times I can not let go of the rod. It is my life. To say that I have to have a permit would kill me. I have just spent thousands of dollars on a new boat. I don't want to pay more money to buy the permit!!!!!! Please do ever thing in your power to stop this. Iam going to go fishing now so see ya" ...Sandra Worsley |
| "A few years ago I researched the NZ commercial fishing industry noting the total harvest of all fish spiecies. It was stagering to say the least. The major export market for schnapper/snapper was Japan taking 3000 tons per year. Japan consumes 50,000+ tons per year,10,000 tons comes from offshore the rest they farm themselves.I find it ridiculous the government would risk such a precious resource for so little gain. The collective revenue from recreational fishers is enormous. If more is required FARM IT. The people of NZ own this resource, period." ...Jim Crawford |
| "WE the public of NZ are slowly losing our traditional rights such as access, minerals such as Gold, right to take greenstone, the "queens chain", selling of public assets for politicians purses, loss of being able to remove native timber from ones own land, the inability to stop the 1080 poisoning of our lands with a recent submission being 95% against but Sandra Lee arrogantly telling the NZ public to basicly "get stuffed, we are going to drop 1080 on your land for the next 10 years", with at least a milion fisherman and women out there I'm sure even our politicians are not bloody that thick to take no notice of option4 (OR ARE THEY?)" ...Lloyd Hanson |
| "I am Maori who has the same rights as any other Kiwi, no more no less so stop looking for excuses. Blame this Government not the people." ...Wana Walker |
| "Great to see someone standing up to the crazy politicians and their desk-bound lackys. I have recorded my catches in the Marlborough Sounds Since around 1976. In that time met fisheries authorities only twice. This gives the impression that it is entirely up to the amateur fisherman to farm the fish stocks for the future by only taking enough fish for that days tea or dinner etc. Want more, go out another day." ...Kevin Andrews |
| "I am only a kid but I want my kids to have the same rights as me and my brother and dad." ...Craig Thomas Garthwaite |
| "I have seen some good fisheries go down to Government and commercial interference.eg the North sea, Irish sea. The fighting to and fro cannot be allowed here. New Zealand waters for all New zealanders NOW and IN THE FUTURE." ...Richard Garthwaite |
| "I am a recreational surfcaster and boat fisherwoman and only take enough out of the sea to feed myself and my family. It is my given right as a born and bred New Zealander to use the natural resources of the land I live in within reason." ...Louise Ewans |
| "Something positive has to be done to protect the rights of ALL NZ'rs not just Maoris when it comes to gathering seafood and at the moment it seems the stocks of readily catchable fish are being raped by commercial operations that have no concern for the inshore reserves. I believe option4 is a good option to start protecting our reserves and our rights. " ...Geoff Wilson |
| "The right of the public to go out and catch enough fish to feed thier family is absolutely paramount. No commercial interest should be allowed control of New Zealands fisheries. This includes the Maori claims to the fishery as then all the New Zealanders that don't have the acceptable percentage of Maori ancestry will also be seriously disadvantaged. My message to the powers that be is that if they want to try and stop me picking up my rod and casting a line into the sea then they will have one hell of a fight on thier hands. Licensing is NOT the answer. " ...Peter Brown |
- The right to harvest must be linked to the responsiblity to conserve.
- The funding issue cannnot be avoided .
- Long term effective management requires financial autonomy. Governments change.
- An obsession with avoiding integration withing the quota management system maybe short-sighted. It is not by accident that this system is the envy of much of the rest of the world.
- Furthermore, the principal of user pays is quite deeply entrenched in new right thinking which currently dominates international speculation on economic matters. ...Steven Radich
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| "I demand the right to go fishing without constraints or demands made of me or my fishing area. Only option4 will give me this." ...Richard & Isobel Powell |
"Any form of licencing will turn normal law abbidding citizens into criminals.History has proven that the commercial fishing interests in the past have contributed to the demise of many of our fish species ie snapper,kahawai,hapuka,orange roughy.Government agencies have contributed significantly to this and are not to be trusted. They have been "bed partners" in this destruction, no doubt due to the huge amounts of money involved in the national fishery. The government goes down this path of legislated restriction of the recreational fisherman at their PERIL!!!! "
...Gavin Findlater. |
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"I am a recreatinal fisherman and I wish to move into the charter business in the Hauraki Gulf. This is a so called Maritime Park raided yesterday by longliners/trawlers off Onetangi Beach.
Its time we realised how much money this Gulf and other recreatinal areas are worth not just in the value of the fish taken but in 1. Enjoyment to all New Zealanders 2. accessabilty for everyone 3. Tourism which is going to be a lot biggger income earner than commercial fisheries 4, Job creation
I am not saying that Commercial fishing does not have its place, it does but limiting or lowering the recreational catch will have a adverse affect down the chain. I would be interested to know if the MOF have done a economic impact study on the recreational boating and tourism industry should they decide to lower the recreational catch or charge fees.The othe issue is if they continue to allow quota and by catch fishing which is maiming our stocks.Rereational fishing may just get too hard as evidenced yesterday. A 10-15% reduction in boat ownership would be disasterous for the industry and related businesses." ...Grant Dickson |
"Great - a single voice that echos the wants of many now and in the future.
Seek greater enforcement! Both resources and funding. option4 policies, or quota, will only succeed if enforced by all, for all, including commercial and customary fisher folk. Gov funding from our "road tax" and GST from associated fishing revenue. If "Arts" can get a gov grant then a greater body of NZ's who fish should be entitled to a share of the Gov support. Loby a politician who fishes, at least one of them must be "normal" like the rest of us and care for our kids future character buiding piscatorial pursuits! " ....Tom Abbott |
| "The Maori claim rights to fishing, saying that it is part of their heritage.... and they were granted fishing rights.......well I am not Maori, but fishing is sure as hell part of my heritage too!!!!!!!!! and I demand as much rights as they do. If the government is that worried about the amount of fish caught why don't they take a look at the Japanese and othger countries who troll our water till they are bare." ....Cerys Lang |
| "The Tasman Bay/Golden bay fisheries have been destroyed by commercial interest.There is only a fraction of the fish stocks left after 30 years of commercial exploitation.A total ban on all commercial fishing between Farewell Spit to D'Urville island and a return of the fisheries to recreational fishing management is the ONLY way to restore the fisheries for future generations." ....Edgar Martin Everton |
| "I am a member of the Manukau Sport Fishing Club and really appreciate what you are doing for our future!..Please feel free to email me any information you wish me to pass on to our other members! " ....Kerren Packer |
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"I am a small boat owner who treasures what I call my back yard or what is known as the Hauraki Gulf. As a New Zealander born and bred it is the one place that I feel completely free when out fishing in my boat doing what I consider my God given right. I hope in the near future to pass on to my new grandson the respect and love I have for this wonderful privilage of being able to go out and catch a reasonable quota of fish without the threat of commercial interference by politicions and others who want to regulate our lives by exploiting every oportunity to make a dollar.
I fully support option4.co.nz and will be signing up all of my mates at work and in this area who are all freedom loving fishers.I will be following your progress with interest and would be happy to assist in any way I can. " ....John Ross |
| "I have yet to come across a definition of 'sustainability' in the Soundings document or at the meetings I have attended. Sustainable can have differing meanings to people, depending on what side of the fence they are on. Just think about the differing terms that can be applied to it. " ....Morris Andrews |
"As I sit here on the edge of the Firth of Thames, an area with tremendous recreational fishing interests, I can watch a large commercial long liner laying lines up and down the Firth. It has been there over a week, harvesting fish which recreational fishers could take. The Firth of Thames is an area which should be reserved for recreational fishing, as commercial vessels of the size of the one out there now can easily harvest areas recreational fishers can not readily reach. "
....Robert Tennent |
| "Take a kid fishing could be in photos only in the next generation this is the thin edge of the wedge." ....John Lee |
| "A quota or share of the fish stock is of no use if the area accessable to recreational fishers ie: inshore areas is fished down to verylow levels as it is at present. We could have a 20% share of nothing. " ....Roy Arnold |
| "I'm worried that if pro-commercial fishing bias is continued in fisheries decision making, then we will have a an empty sea as our asset - just like the Grand Banks fishery - and that was "managed" by so called experts. I do not want licencing - why should I pay for something that isn't "owned"? What next - a licence to consume oxygen? " ....Graeme Williams |
| "The recreational fisherman has fundamental rights to the seas around New Zealand and therefore has a say when avaricious and greedy commercial operaters seek to ravage the resource for their own personal gain." ....James Ferrier |
| "All New Zealanders have more right to the fishery than some profit seeking, greedy commercial operaters(many of whom never set foot on a boat). The public has a right to this resource and the "bureaucrats" should acknowledge as a basic principle that the resource is the "peoples" first. " ....Ann Gainsford |
| "For too long the recreational fisher has put up with a depleted sea. There is only ONE reason why the sea is depleted. Commercial fishing. I will support any proposal to curb the greedy efforts of these wankers." ....Charlie Carr |
| "Good to see the recreational fishermen starting to manage the resource. I am apprehensive about the govt's ability to manage the resource." ....Malcolm Bluck |
| "We must preserve our future rights as recreational fishermen for the benefit of future generations" ...Rachelle Walker |
"I suport the views of option4. Fishing is a right, bag limits have already been reduced too much for the benifit of commercial fishers."
Derek Ferry |
"It must remain every individual's right to have free access to all fishing areas and it must be the Governments responsibility to ensure commercial access does not plunder the resource."
Max Bakker |
| "We must protect our recreational fishing rights We must stock the inshore raping of the ocean by commerical fishing trawlers. We have the same rights as Maori Customary Rights" ...Emerson Weston |
"Please push for a 5-7 mile heritage zone for recreational fishers around the NZ coastline that excludes all commercial fishing they have the vessels that can travel further than your average boatie so let them we need an inshore fishery that is accessiable to all recreational anglers"
....Colin Drever |
| "As a recreational fisherman and one that has worked on commercial boats, I support any intiative that looks to redress the balance of rights and power away from the strictly financial interests of the commercial sector to the recreational sector. Don't let the destruction of our fishery (as was the case in many o'seas examples) continue at the hands of the commercial sector."....Kim Fry |
| "I agree with your proposal but wonder about the funding aspect.I think as someone was talking about compensation at the meeting in Tauranga the other night, maybe instead of a payout the government should foot the bill for the set up and continued running costs of such an exercise. My one big concern is that in the future children will not be able to sit at wharves and in dinghys and share in the pleasure and relaxation that is fishing".....Darren Jones |
| "Fishing should be enjoyed freely by recreational fishermen, with no serious threats by commerical fishing or government schemes" ...Shanon Weston |
"I am sick of every year having to travel further and further to catch less and less fish. The commercial sector has already shown how it manipulates a fishery. Its about time to recognise the right of every Kiwi, to be able to catch a reasonable amount of fish for a reasonable effort. "
....Ralph Walton |
| "I think the government is crazy to bring in these changes and they will ruin it for all the recreational fishermen like me out there." ....Simon Borich |
| "I will never buy a fishing licence. " ... Stefan Weston |
"History has shown very clearly in NZ that where commercial interests have been given access and control over a marine resource, depletion is the usual result.
Government should not underestimate the interest and commitment of the powerful recreational fishing population to maintain a sustainable and freely accessible fishery. " ....Philip Hann |
"Good on you ,keep up the fight. I didn't even know this was going on.
It's the large commercial fisheries,not giving the fish a chance to reproduce. The fishing magazine's don't help by only publishing 20lb + Fish. They should be giving out water-proof camera's, so the best breeding stock can be released. " ....Paul Wilcox |
