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Kahawai Submission
Wellington
Surfcasting and Angling Club
2
August 1990
This letter was formulated
by members of the Wellington Surfcasting and Angling Club, written
by Jim Mikoz and signed by the then President Mr Paul Crothers,
in August 1990 under the letterhead of the:-
WSAC
PO Box 3060
Wellington
2nd August 1990
Regional Manager North
MAF Fisheries
P O Box 3437
AUCKLAND
Dear Sir
RE: SUBMISSION ON PROPOSAL
FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE KAHAWAI FISHERY
Our club has been involved
in fishing for nearly 30 years (including a catch history) and now
and has a membership of approximately 120 members. We competitively
fish in our club waters, which extend from Castle Point on the east
coast, to Otaki on the west coast.
We have previously written
to Mr R Cade, Central Fishery Management (copy attached) supporting
the direction outlined by Hon Colin Moyle in his June 1989 release
regarding the National Policies for Marine Recreational Fisheries
and offering suggestions to the management of the fishing in the
Wellington region.
We are supportive of the
principle of setting quotas for kahawai in order to ensure that
important recreational species are protected, however we have serious
concerns that the proposed quota of 5,200 tonnes is too large and
could lead to serious depletion of the stocks of kahawai, which
is one of the most important recreational species in our club as
well to the sport nationally.
Summary of our Submission
- Kahawai is probably the most important recreational specie to
our sport, because of its fighting qualities but also because
it is the specie that introduces most anglers to the sport.
- The numbers of kahawai taken by our club have decreased every
year for the last four years.
- We believe that commercially catches of kahawai over the past
nine years have been excessive.
- We do not support setting quota on the average of past years
commercial catches as these catches almost certainly caused the
depletion of catch numbers indicated above.
- We believe the quota should however be based on scientific evidence
that can give recreational fishers comfort that their resource
will not be depleted by excessive commercial catches.
- Until this information is available we recommend that the Minister
designate kahawai as a recreational fish species with no commercial
exploitation.
- We would support limits being imposed on recreational catches
until more information is available.
- Finally we do not believe establishing a quota as high as 5,200
tonnes is consistant with Hon Colin Moyle's press release dated
June 1989 and if implemented will also certainly lose credibility
at least with the members of this club.
Importance of Kahawai
as a Recreational Fish
Kahawai is a very important
recreation fish for the following reasons:
- It is often (almost always) the first fish of significant size
that is caught by any prospective angler.
- It has excellent fighting qualities and is a spectacular fish
to catch on light lines, often broaching the surface.
- It is also an important food fish for significant numbers of
less competitive fishers, most of whom do not belong to fishing
clubs.
- Kahawai is a species that is widespread throughout New Zealand
and is accordingly truly of national importance, not just regionally
important.
Importance of Kahawai
to other Industries
We also believe kahawai has
significant importance to other industries and in particular.
- To the boating and fishing tackle industries. Casual enquires
indicate that significant sales are made to members if the public
specifically targeting kahawai for recreational purposes.
- To the tourist industries and in particular as bait fish for
big game fishing but also as a recreational species in their own
right.
Commercial Fishing
for Kahawai
- Kahawai is vulnerable to devastation through commercial exploitation
because it is highly visible schooling species. We believe that
purse seining in conjunction with spotter planes is particularly
dangerous.
- Commercial catches in the last nine years or so have had a cumulative
effect that is leading to reduced recreational catches. Our anglers
have to go to considerably more effort to catch kahawai.
- We have serious concerns that significant damage may have already
been done to kahawai populations that may take them years to recover
from.
Rationale for Quota
Size
- We do not believe previous commercial catches are a valid basis
to set quota for recreational species.
- Quota must be set on a basis that will provide reassurance to
recreational fishers that there is minimum risk to recreational
catch numbers and quality.
- MAF Fisheries acknowledge in its discussion paper that it does
not have the information to estimate the biomass or turnover rate
of kahawai.
- We draw attention to the national objective a set out by Hon
Colin Moyle in June 1989, ie
"To ensure recreational
users have access to a reasonable share of the fisheries resources."
The lack of information as
noted above leads one to the conclusion that it is not possible
to provide this assurance unless commercial exploitation is ceased
at least until information is available to support a contrary view.
We hope our views will
be useful in finalising policy for the management of the kahawai
fishery. We would be grateful if you could acknowledge receipt of
our letter and keep us informed of future developments both as regard
to the kahawai fishery but also other fishery management proposals.
Yours sincerely
P S Crothers
President
Wellington Surfcasting and
Angling Club
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