| Letter
to Minister of Fisheries
By
Nelson Cross and Alan Key
8 April
2008
April 8, 2008
Minister of Fisheries
Hon. Jim Anderton
Re: Resubmission to Hector’s Dolphin Threat Management Plan
Sir
On Tuesday, April 1, 2008 in the public notices section of the Southland
Times a notice regarding new information on the above was notified.
This notice stated that due to new information further submissions
were invited from interested parties.
It was stated that this information would be available from a Tracy
Steel of MFish at a Wellington phone number (04) 819 4585.
It was also stated that any submissions should be received by April
20, 2008. On ringing this phone number to access the “new”
information, a recorded message stated that Ms Steel was on annual
leave and was unavailable.
On Thursday, March 20, the government stated in a press release
that the decision on Hector’s and Maui dolphins was to be
delayed for six weeks. Given the Easter break and the Anzac day/weekend
this only leaves seven working days to receive/analyse and deliberate
on submissions received up to April 20. Can you, minister, make
an informed decision on the above within this timeframe?
Given all this and considering the legal definition of consultation
re Wellington Airport v Air NZ we can only confess to disappointment
and no little confusion as to how this “extra” exercise
can be proceeded with credible and intelligent submissions.
As has been stated:
- The “new” information is not available
- Submission/consultation time is far too short.
- Consultation does not meet acceptable standards re Wellington
Airport v Air NZ.
- Relevant research from Te Wae Wae Bay is not yet available to
assist you in your decision due to unacceptable delay in the document
regarding peer review, even though DoC, in the original Hector’s
dolphin plan, stated that this would, in fact, be available to
you (page 142, para. 4).
This whole
process seems to have been driven by emotion rather than fact.
As recreational fishers we are as anxious to protect threatened
species as anyone. But the threat must be based on sound, credible
and correct data, not the questionable science and emotive posturing
that has so far been presented by some groups.
We are also disappointed that we have been asked for submissions
without being privy to all the information available. To simply
say that it’s not ready (DoC Te Wae Wae Bay research) is not
good enough. While we accept that research should be and is ongoing,
current research should be available to all and not, as we suspect,
deliberately withheld by DoC because it is against present postulation
regarding threats, numbers etc.
We cannot emphasise enough the need for honesty. Sound, robust documentation
and credible research is unchallengeable through the courts or otherwise.
If you wish to contact us we would be only too pleased to discuss
these or any other issues with you and we can be contacted at:-
Alan Key
Nelson Cross
Concerned recreational fishers
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