| Whakamaharatanga
Hui to Discuss Non-commercial Fishing Interests and Maori Customary
Management Tools
27-29
July 2005
This document was an
appendix to the option4 submissions sent to the Ministry of Fisheries
during the review of sustainability measures for the 2005-06 fishing
year. It was also an appendix to the full report of the hui. Full
report of the hui available here » »
Introduction
On the 28th July 2005 the
Ministry of Fisheries were invited to Whakamaharatanga Marae to
have meaningful discussion on issues raised by those attending the
hui. Discussions took place on a way forward and the conception
of, and attendance of, customary regional forums.
Background
Up until 1992, when Maori
went fishing to feed their whanau, they were customary fishers.
They took enough fish to feed the family within traditional practices.
After the signing of the Sealords deal the situation changed forever.
Maori are now categorised as recreational fishers when fishing for
food to feed their children.
Over the last 12 years Maori
have been engaged in dealing with their commercial allocation of
quota. Now that the asset has been settled and is close to being
finalised, Maori have finally realised that their non-commercial
interests are threatened by a lack of fish in the water.
In the last year Ngapuhi
have been in consultation with other non-commercial fishing interests
and have come to the conclusion that they have much in common. With
closer relationship building it has been established that because
of the depletion of the inshore shared fisheries the main common
desire is more fish in the water.
Consultation has now widened
to include other iwi within the Tai Tokerau region who have also
concluded they must work together with other non-commercial fishing
interests to achieve the objective of more fish in the water.
Those
present at the hui agreed upon the following:
Sustainability
- We all want more fish in the water.
- Customary and recreational fishing interests all agreed that
there is insufficient abundance to meet the requirements of non-commercial
fishers in many inshore shared fisheries.
- Greater understanding of fisheries management processes has
developed through dialogue.
- There is universal agreement about the deficiency of the current
management of our fisheries.
- MFish acknowledge some failure in their fisheries management.
- Non-commercial fishers raised a list of issues that they believe
need to be addressed regarding initial allocations, illegal and
unethical activity by commercial fishers. These issues will need
to be addressed as an essential component of regaining trust that
the QMS can deal fairly with both commercial and non-commercial
interests.
- MFish acknowledge that without goodwill it is difficult to effectively
reduce non-commercial catch.
- It was agreed that goodwill was eroded when historic conservation
efforts went unaccounted for in recent fisheries management decisions
and proposals.
- Public awareness and good understanding of the need for change
is essential if goodwill is expected.
- MFish have acknowledged research funding is limited.
Customary
- We agreed that mataitai and taiapure were potentially excellent
customary tools for managing sedentary species but were unlikely
to have much effect on mobile finfish stocks.
- More resources are needed to be applied to implement and maintain
customary tools.
- Kaitiakitanga is caring for the fish stocks. Iwi agree kaitiakitanga
is for the benefit of all.
- Customary interests accepted the forums proposed by the Te Tari
o Te Kahui Pou Hononga.
- It was agreed the customary forum must include all non-commercial
fishing interests.
- Iwi still maintain their customary rights under the Settlement
Deed.
- Recreational fishing interests have developed an appreciation
of tikanga associated with customary fishing.
- Before the promulgation of customary management tools education
has to be provided to the public.
Recreational
- Recreational fishing interests fully recognise and respect customary
fishing rights.
- Ngapuhi acknowledge that a significant portion of their catch
is currently categorised as recreational.
- Recreational fishers have achieved a good understanding of how
the above two points interact with Ngapuhi's commercial fishing
interests.
- It was agreed by recreational fishing interests that our interests,
in this respect, coincide to a great extent.
- We have achieved a common understanding of each others (customary
and recreational) aspirations in shared fisheries.
Reserves
- No-take marine reserves were not a solution to poor fisheries
management.
Recommendations
- We recommend that non-commercial fishers work collaboratively
on the response to the current Ministry Initial Position Papers.
The drafts are already prepared for the response to the SNA8,
FLA1, GMU1 and kahawai proposals. The proportional allocation
document will form part of the submissions. This is to help achieve
the objective of more fish in the water. The decisions on these
fisheries will take effect on 1 October this year.
- We recommend that if there are any outstanding issues from the
proportional document, the Ministry and representatives from this
hui will meet to discuss those issues after 1 October.
- We recommend that we should reconvene within four weeks. This
hui will be funded by the Ministry.
- We recommend discussions will be on the terms of reference,
a Memorandum of Understanding and a strategic plan for the forum.
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