| Coromandel
Shellfish Closure - Announcement
Ministry
of Fisheries
21
October 2004
Proposed extension
to the harvesting of cockles and pipi between Ngarimu and Wilson's
Bays, Coromandel Peninsula
The purpose of this letter
is to consult with you on a request from the Hauraki Mäori Trust
Board to extend the prohibition, made under section 186A of the
Fisheries Act 1996 (the Act), to the harvesting of cockles and pipi
between Ngarimu and Wilson's Bays, Coromandel Peninsula for a further
period of two years.
Section 186A provides that
the Minister of Fisheries (the Minister) may temporarily close an
area, or restrict or prohibit the use of any fishing method in respect
of an area by way of a notice in the Gazette if satisfied that the
closure, prohibition or restriction will recognise and provide for
the use and management practices of tängata whenua in the exercise
of non-commercial fishing rights by improving the availability and/or
size of fish, aquatic life, or seaweed or by recognising a customary
fishing practice. Any notice given under section 186A can remain
in force for a maximum period of two years. However, a further notice
may be given for a further period of two years.
Before determining whether
or not to give notice under section 186A, the Minister must first
consult those persons the Minister considers are representative
of those with an interest in the species or the area concerned.
The Minister must also provide for the input and participation in
the decision-making process of tängata whenua with a non-commercial
interest in the species or the effects of fishing in the area concerned.
This requirement to consult also applies to requests for extensions
to existing closures, restrictions, or prohibitions.
On that basis, the Ministry
of Fisheries (the Ministry) wishes to consult with you in relation
to the prohibition to the harvesting of cockles and pipi between
Ngarimu and Wilson's Bays, Coromandel Peninsula for a further period
of two years.
Background
On 1 December 1998, a two-year
closure to taking pipi and cockle was set by fishing regulation
between Ngarimu and Wilson's Bay. This closure was in response to
the Hauraki Mäori Trust Board, local Mäori and community concern
about the depletion of cockle and pipi along this portion of the
Coromandel Peninsula (see attached map).
Increases in harvesting pressure by amateur fishers on the shellfish
beds along the Western Peninsula were identified as one cause of
this depletion.
A scientific monitoring programme
was conducted during the above period, which indicated that these
shellfish resources continued to be depleted. In December 2000,
a section 186A temporary prohibition to the harvesting of cockles
and pipi between Ngarimu and Wilson's Bays, Coromandel Peninsula
was established for a period of two years.
In March 2002, the Hauraki
Mäori Trust Board considered the results of subsequent monitoring
conducted by Trust officers and Ministry consultants, which indicated
that little or no improvement was evident in the state of cockle
and pipi resources between Ngarimu and Wilson's Bay. In response,
the Board requested that the temporary closure be extended for another
two years.
On that basis, the Minister
agreed to renew the temporary prohibition on the harvesting of cockles
and pipi between Ngarimu and Wilson's Bays for a further two years.
The area closed is described in the Fisheries (Western Coromandel
Peninsula Closure) Notice 2002, which came into force on 19 December
2002 and will expire on 18 December 2004.
Proposal
to extend the prohibition
The Hauraki Mäori Trust Board
have proposed that the closure be extended for
a further two-year period. They view the two-year extension as necessary
to provide sufficient time to determine the reasons for the continued
depletion of cockles and pipi in the area between Ngarimu and Wilson's
Bays.
The Hauraki Mäori Trust Board
intend to keep the customary rahui (ban) to the harvesting of cockles
and pipi between Ngarimu and Wilson's Bays and requests that the
rahui continue with legislative support under s 186A of the Act.
The Hauraki Mäori Trust Board
supports the proposed two-year extension with results
from 3 "Adopt a Beach" surveys carried out in the closed area, which
were compared to the results obtained in similar surveys carried
out in 2000. The surveys have shown that abundances of cockle and
pipi are still low and there appears to be no recruitment of smaller
pipi. The Hauraki Mäori Trust Board wish to continue to research
and monitor the area, in the absence of harvesting, and use this
information collected to determine appropriate action for the future.
Submissions
If you would like to make
a submission on the proposal to extend the prohibition to the harvesting
of cockles and pipi between Ngarimu and Wilson's Bays, Coromandel
Peninsula please respond in writing by Monday, 22 November
2004 to Melanie Russell, Ministry of Fisheries, P O Box
1020, Wellington, or by email to Melanie.Russell@fish.govt.nz
.
Yours sincerely
Randall Bess
Spatial Allocations Manager
Ministry of Fisheries
Map
of the 186A temporary closure between Ngarimu and Wilson's Bays,
Coromandel Peninsula
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