This letter
contains my preliminary views on the sustainability measure
and management control proposals that will be subject to consultation
between MFish and myself and interested stakeholders. I request
that stakeholders forward their submissions on these proposals
to my office by Friday 26 July 2002. The date for receipt
of submissions has changed from that stated initially by MFish.
Paua
(PAU 5D)
My initial position on this proposal is to support option
2, which provides for the TAC to be set at 159 tonnes for
the 2002-03 fishing year with a further reduction to 134 tonnes
the following fishing year. Under this option the TACC would
be reduced from 148.81 tonnes to 114 tonnes for the 2002-03
fishing year with a further reduction to 89 tonnes the following
fishing year. In my view, option 2 would appear to provide
the best chance to reduce catches to a level that will halt
the decline and optimise the potential for a rebuild of the
stock. Furthermore, the “stepped down” approach
proposed by MFish will mitigate the social and economic consequences
on the industry of a significant reduction proposed to the
current TACC.
The recreational
catch makes up a significant proportion of the total catch
of PAU 5D. I support the consultation that MFish intends to
conduct with recreational fishers on ways to constrain the
recreational catch within the 22 tonne allowance proposed
for this sector. I understand that a significant amount of
the recreational catch is taken from the statutory and voluntary
recreational-only areas along the Otago and Southland coast.
I am interested in receiving information on the health of
the paua fishery in each of these recreational fishing areas.
This will enable me to consider whether or not measures should
be tailored to address the state of each local recreational
paua fishery
