| Flatfish
1 (FLA1) Flounder
East & West Coast North Island
2005
The Ministry of Fisheries
(MFish) advised stakeholders that they were reviewing catch limits
for Flatfish (FLA1) in response to expressions of concern from coastal
communities about sustainability and local depletion of stocks in
various harbours on the west coast of the North Island.
An Initial Position Paper
(IPP) was issued to stakeholders on 30 June 2005. MFish invited
stakeholders to provide comments on the consultation document.
Original deadline for comments was
29th July 2005. MFish extended the deadline to 10th August.
Mullet
and Flounder
The allocation model for
the flatfish (flounder) fishery demonstrates the lunacy of previous
allocation decisions. In the flounder fishery the commercial sector
have been allocated so much quota that they have been unable to
catch it in any single year since the introduction of the Quota
Management System in 1986.
The mullet allocations
for commercial fishers are equivalently high. Concerns about the
sustainability of both fisheries have been raised in the Ministry's
papers this year.
MFish has proposed to
reduce the quotas on both species to the level that reflects current
commercial catches in these fisheries. Commercial fishers will continue
to take the same level of catch that has caused the sustainability
problem in the first place.
This appears to contradict
the Ministry's own advice that clearly says a reduction in actual
catch is necessary. Obviously if commercial catches are not reduced
these proposed cuts to quotas will have no effect on improving these
fisheries.
Draft
Submission
option4 was concerned
about the limited time for consultation. A draft submission was
posted online to allow people to give us their feedback. Alert
#8 was sent out on August 2nd to alert people to the opportunity
to have a say on the Ministry proposals. The feedback received was
incorporated, where possible, into the final option4 submission.
Full details below.
Your
Opportunity to have Input
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here to be kept fully informed of further developments.
| FLA1 |
| Ministers Decision |
The Minister has decided "scientific information does
not support a sustainability concern" in Flounder 1. A
package of measures will be developed to address local concerns.
Full text in printable format here ......................................................» » |
22
Nov 05
(80Kb)
|
| No changes will be made to the annual Total Allowable Catches
of flounder in the northern North Island region. Read why the
Minister believes TAC cuts will not address localised depletion
issues. |
30
Sep 05
|
| MFish Final Advice |
| MFish agree that concerns about localised depletion
are valid and creates tension between fishing sectors. Despite
this the Minister has decided not to reduce commercial quotas
even though they have never been caught?? |
Sep 2005
(200Kb)
|
| Executive Summary of Final Advice Paper - a quick read |
(50Kb)
|
| Submissions |
| option4 suggests a reduction in commercial catch limits for
flounder and ways in which this important fishery can be managed
better to improve access for non-commercial fishers. |
10
Aug 05
|
| Full
text of IPP available in a PDF (180Kb) here...............................»
» |
|
| Muriwai Sports Fishing Clubs submission to the Ministry of Fisheries on proposals for flounder 1, snapper 8 and grey mullet 1. |
10 Aug 05
|
| Letter from Muriwai SFC to MFish objecting to proportional allocation of fisheries depleted by commercial overfishing and mismanagement. |
10 Aug 05
|
| Ministry of Fisheries
|
MFish advise the deadline for submissions has
been extended to the 10th August.
Full text of Letter available here .......................................................» » |
25 Jul 05
(20Kb)
|
| Initial Position Paper (IPP)
from the Ministry of Fisheries on proposals for flounder on
the east and west coast of the North Island.
Full text of IPP available here .......................................................» » |
1 July 05
(260Kb)
|
Statutory Obligations section of the IPP - what
the Minister has to take into account when considering changes
to fisheries management.
Full text of the Statutory Obligations here .........................................» » |
1 July 05
(200Kb)
|
| Letter from MFish advising of the IPP for flatfish
(flounder), grey mullet, snapper 8, elephant fish and rig. |
1
July 05
|
|
