Phil Heatleys Speech NZRFC Conference 2004

Phil Heatleys Speech to NZRFC Conference

National Party MP

Flames International Hotel, Whangarei

2 July 2004

Thank you and Introduction

Can I acknowledge the work that Ross Gildon, Max Hetherington, Keith Ingram, Jeff Romeril, Bill Cronin and others do for the recreational sector.

And Scott Macindoe who is always on the end of the phone and his colleague Paul Barnes.

I haven't met all of you but I read your love letters to the Minister as they are discoverable under the OIA.

Personal Background

Prior to politics & now.

I'm a Northlander who lives by the coast, 400m from a boat ramp, and I have a boat. It will come as no surprise that I have a keen and personal interest in recreational fishing.

And I say don't loose sight of this because it is the real reason why we bat for recreational fishing, not for the almighty tourist or retail dollar.

Lines in the Sand

I've been given marching orders to tell it straight – that's how Don does things and that's how National is to do things.

You and I won't agree on everything but I think we will share the same outlook on what's important.

1. National believes that every NZder should have the opportunity, without having to licence, or pay a fee, or hold a quota, or belong to any organisation, to go down to the sea and catch a feed of fish, subject to reasonable regulations.

As far as we are concerned licensing is off the drawing board. To date no one has identified sufficient need to impose licensing for any "fisheries management" purpose.

You have to have fisher's buy-in for it to work. I know there is some interest in having it for some high value species in some areas, like crays in the Bay of Plenty for example.

But it's up to you - if you think some form of registration or control of recreational fishermen can provide better monitoring of high value stocks, and therefore better management, then let's talk about it.

Otherwise, it's off the agenda when I am Minister of Fisheries

 

2. National supports the Quota Management System for most fish species. It was essential for New Zealand to manage fish and shellfish stocks sustainably – gross over fishing was occurring but gross over fishing should not occur in the QMS.
3. We don't need a reform of the QMS – but clearly its application needs a tune-up. What I want is the TAC and TACC:

1. to be set properly and adjusted accordingly.
2. to be respected and observed.

That is what sustainable utilisation is all about.

Currently, David Benson-Pope has to make these determinations but be assured we will be keeping him accountable.

Preferential rights

I know Rec Groups are pursuing amendment to Section 21 of the Fisheries Act to provide for explicit allocation criteria when setting the TACC with regard to recreational and Maori takes.

How much recreational fishers really want any Minister to be bound by explicit criteria, I don't know.

We could use Ministerial Policy Statements rather than legislation but they are not binding and may unwind at any change of Government.

You are also pursuing amendment to Section 311 of the Fisheries Act to provide recreational fishers with a stronger access right where an area can't support recreational and commercial fishing or certain types of commercial fishing.

National understands your intent but we are warmer toward negotiated agreements between stakeholders.

I am open minded about what legislative changes we can make to better acknowledge recreational interests.

However, I don't think as recreational fishers you realise how much power you already have under the Act if you just pushed the line harder and were better backed by science.

Research

In any case, National's view is that a fairer assessment of the recreational take is essential. Clearly, the results of the 1996 Recreational Fishing Harvest Estimates are arguable.

• With licensing off the drawing board National supports significant spending on recreational fishing surveys and will be holding the Government accountable for their spending.
• Labour need a plan and they haven't got one:

1. Firstly to find a reliable method of estimating the recreational catch;
2. Then establishing a monitoring programme in partnership with fishing clubs;
3. Then identifying the priority data needs;
4. Then using that data.

We have to encourage recreational data provision. After all - and be fair - anecdotal evidence wont stand against science.

For example, at the very least Charter Fishermen should be required to submit catch returns so that their share of the recreational catch can be monitored.

Marine Reserves

A lot of people are contacting me wanting to know Nationals policy on Marine Reserves.

For starters, we totally oppose Labour's 10% target of the whole marine area because it is just arbitrary, it is generated with little thought to science, it is simply a slogan.

Reserves are there to secure for NZders a representative sample of marine biodiversity. To us, it is also preferable that they be accessible for educational purposes.

Exceptions should be limited. Poor Knights is one good and example. It has proven useful in protecting biodiversity but for educational purposes it is too remote.

Such sites may be valuable for the dive tourism industry but National are concerned when one industry (e.g. tourism, Recreational charter fishing, commercial fishing) loses rights for the sake of another industry (e.g. diving).  

Further, we are not that sympathetic that DOC has unchallenged control of the marine reserve process.

Lets look at their at their track record managing the land – pathetic. If you live next to DOC land and kill one possum, 100 turn up to its funeral.

DOC should not be player and referee. DOC can't be allowed to put in Marine Reserve applications and then be the body that approves them.

Lastly on Poaching

It is appalling to think that:

• FOs won't go to the East Coast because they fear for their lives.
• Crooks get off the hook through MoF and Crown Law incompetence.
• Half the paua catch and about 20% of the crayfish catch is illegal.

Most fishers are going about fishing honestly and they should be left alone. But those who steal from our stocks should be nailed, hung, drawn and quartered.

Don Brash is to give our Law and Order speech this weekend. Our policing policies there will flow over to the Fishery.

Front line policing is essential and the Fisheries Officers need more resourcing. HFO numbers have been halved and I want more of both on the ground.

Clearly, you can play your role in arresting the theft from our fishery by providing timely and reliable information to the Ministry.

Everyone must cooperate to help nail these crooks for the sake of our fisheries. I believe that we must consider any and every sensible suggestion that will enable us to drive these fish thieves out of business.

Seabed and foreshore

Your biggest threat is Labour and Winston's Seabed and Foreshore, backroom deal.

NZ should not believe their access has been protected.

Maori will have huge leverage over everything you do in the marine environment. Your boat ramp - your mooring -aquaculture space - marine reserves.

There will be two standards of citizenship when it comes to the seabed and the beach.

We oppose it.

Thank you.

Phil Heatley MP

Spokesperson for Fisheries

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