| option4.co.nz
PO Box 37951
Parnell
Auckland
Mike Arbuckle
Ministry of Fisheries
PO Box 1020
Wellington
Email: arbucklem@fish.govt.nz
Wednesday 4 February 2004
Introduction of New
Species into the QMS on 1 October 2004
Dear Mr. Arbuckle
Thank you for your letter
dated 12th January advising option4 of the introduction of 19 new
species into the QMS on 1 October 2004 and the accompanying IPP.
Your letter also advised a submission deadline of 27th February
2004. option4 would like to request an extension to that deadline.
We have read the Initial
Position Paper (IPP) you have provided including the MFish recommendations
to the Minister. We note there are many issues that need addressing
within the IPP and we would like to respond to those issues in a
timely manner. However, we recognise the importance of these species
to the public and the deadline of 27th February is too soon for
us to complete the necessary consultation.
option4 have initiated a
consultation process and the response has been more than what we
envisioned. The public have expressed some very valid points which
need to be given due consideration. It is very clear, even at this
early stage, that we will not be able to complete the consultation
process to our satisfaction by 27th February.
We are also awaiting a report
from NIWA on the Characterisation of the Amateur Fishery for Kahawai
in New Zealand, a project funded by New Zealand Marine Research
Foundation. This report is due on 1/3/04 and will be reported back
to the Pelagic Fisheries Assessment Working Group. We believe that
a more detailed analysis of the kahawai fishery will better inform
the decision-making process at this time.
We suggest a date of 27th
March as the earliest we will be able to finalise our submission.
Would you please confirm that you would accept our submission on
or before the 27th March 2004? As time is of the essence please
give this request your most urgent attention and respond ASAP. Thank
you in anticipation for your understanding of our situation and
process needs.
Yours sincerely
Trish Rea
option4 spokesperson
trish@option4.co.nz
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