| Kahawai
Submission
by
Peter Clark
21
February 2004
Re:
Kahawai stocks in the MANUKAU Harbour
I have been fishing the Manukau
harbour frequently (weather permitting) for 30 years. I fish all
year round.
I have kept a fishing log
all that time. When I had a smaller boat 1991 to 1997 I only fished
at the same spot targeting kawahai. Namely near the Red Buoy at
Huia. Always at the same state of the tide - from 2 hours before
HW to slack water. Always the same bait of pilchards.
I have only recorded what
you would call 'large kahawai fish' which usually was all that you
caught at that spot.
Here are the kahawai statistics
for me alone in the boat:
Year |
Number of trips |
Average (number)caught
per trip |
|
| 1991 |
9 |
12.5 |
|
| 1992 |
16 |
8.8 |
10.65 |
| 1993 |
15 |
4.6 |
8.6 |
| 1994 |
20 |
6.3 |
8.05 |
| 1995 |
7 |
11.1 |
8.6 |
| 1996 |
13 |
4.3 |
7.9 |
| 1997 |
16 |
9.3 |
8.1 |
Over the last 8 months I
have been to the same spot at the same state of the tide 4 times
and only caught - June 1 kahawai , and another 4 trips a
total of 3 small kahawai.
In addition regarding fishing in the inner Manukau harbour I have
some additional statistics. This covers the average fishing trip of
3 to 4 hours going to around three regular spots and not targeting
kawahai, with two people fishing, period April to November each year.
| Year |
Kahawai
caught |
# of trips |
Average
kahawai
per
trip |
| 2001 |
28 |
17 |
1.6 |
| 2002 |
|
20 |
2.3
(excluding juveniles
1.95)
|
| 2003 |
28 |
33 |
0.85 |
MY SUBMISSION IS THAT THERE
IS OVER FISHING OF KAHAWAI AND THE QUOTAS ARE FAR TOO HIGH FOR COMMERCIAL
FISHERS
Peter Clark
Blockhouse
Bay
Auckland
|
