| Grey
Mullet 1 (GMU1)
East
& West Coast North Island
2005
The Ministry of Fisheries
(MFish) advised stakeholders that they were reviewing catch limits
for Grey Mullet (GMU1) in response to expressions of concern about
the sustainability of current mullet catches and possible local
depletion of various harbour stocks.
An Initial Position Paper (IPP) was issued to stakeholders on 30
June 2005. MFish invited stakeholders to provide comments on the
consultation document.
Original deadline for
comments was 29th July 2005. MFish then extended the deadline to
10th August.
Mullet and Flounder
The allocation model for the grey mullet fishery demonstrates the
lunacy of previous allocation decisions. In the mullet fishery the
commercial sector have been allocated so much quota that they have
been unable to catch it in any single year since the introduction
of the Quota Management System in 1986.
The flounder allocations for commercial fishers are equivalently
high. Concerns about the sustainability of both fisheries have been
raised in the Ministry's papers this year.
MFish has proposed to reduce the quotas on both species to the level
that reflects current commercial catches in these fisheries. Commercial
fishers will continue to take the same level of catch that has caused
the sustainability problem in the first place.
This appears to contradict
the Ministry's own advice that clearly says a reduction in actual
catch is necessary. Obviously if commercial catches are not reduced
these proposed cuts to quotas will have no effect on improving these
fisheries.
Draft Submission
option4 was concerned about the limited time for consultation. A
draft submission was posted online to allow people to give us their
feedback. Alert
#8 was sent out on August 2nd to alert people to the opportunity
to have a say on the Ministry proposals. The feedback received was
incorporated, where possible, into the final option4 submission.
Full details below.
Your Opportunity to have Input
If you are not already registered to receive the option4 Updates
and Alerts please subscribe
here to be kept fully informed of further developments.
| GMU1 |
| Ministers Decision |
| The Minister has said "there is some information to indicate a decline in abundance" but has not reduced the commercial catches of mullet. Full
text of Minister's decision available here... |
22 Nov 05
(Pdf 80Kb)
|
| No changes will be made to the annual Total Allowable Catches
of grey mullet in the northern North Island region. Read why
the Minister believes TAC cuts will not address localised depletion
issues. |
30
Sep 05
|
| MFish Final Advice |
| MFish acknowledge the commercial catch has not reached the
TACC set for grey mullet in any year since 1986, the first year
of the QMS. Their advice to the Minister is available in a printable
format here... |
Sep 2005
(Pdf 350Kb)
|
| Summary of MFish advice to the Minister, worth a quick read. |
(Pdf 50Kb)
|
| Submissions |
| option4 expresses its concern about the sustainability of
mullet if the Ministry's proposals are implemented. We are also
concerned about the possible cut to the recreational allowance
if MFish get their way. |
10
Aug 05
|
| Muriwai Sports Fishing Clubs submission to the Ministry of Fisheries on proposals for grey mullet 1, flounder 1 and snapper. |
10 Aug 05
|
| Letter from Muriwai SFC to MFish objecting to proportional allocation of fisheries depleted by commercial overfishing and mismanagement. |
10 Aug 05
|
| Ministry of Fisheries
|
MFish advise the deadline for submissions has been extended to the 10th August. Full
text of IPP available here...
|
25 Jul 02
(Pdf 20Kb)
|
| Initial Position Paper (IPP) from the Ministry of Fisheries on proposals for Grey Mullet, east and west coast of the North Island. |
1 Jul 05
(Pdf 330Kb)
|
| Statutory Obligations section of the IPP - what the Minister has to take into account when considering changes to fisheries management. |
1 Jul 05
(Pdf 200Kb)
|
| Letter from MFish advising of the IPP for grey
mullet, flatfish (flounder), snapper 8, elephant fish and rig.
|
1
Jul 05
|
|
