| Regulation
Review Letter to MFish
by
NZ Recreational Fishing Council
11
September 2006
The Ministry of Fisheries
Auckland.
Dear Sarah
Proposal to amend
aspects of the Amateur Fishing Regulations.
The Council thanks the Ministry
of Fisheries for this opportunity for the recreational fishing community
to participate in this review and as such we have endeavoured to
ensure that the recreational sector has been given the opportunity
to comment on the proposal to amend aspects of the Amateur Fishing
Regulations. In doing so, we have identified that there are a number
of aspects on which our members share differing views. We remain
mindful that some issues have been derived from interpretations
of the courts where they now impede on the access rights of fishers.
Introduction.
The NZ Recreational Fishing
Council was first formed in 1978 and since that time it has grown
to be recognised by the Courts and Government agencies, as being
a creditable national organisation representing the wider recreational
fishing fraternity.
The
Council and its Representation:
The New Zealand Recreational
Fishing Council represents national and regional associations, clubs,
corporate and individual members. Whilst a number of these have
their own policies and will make submissions to you we believe they
will be consistent with this submission. However we acknowledge
there will be areas where we do state a differing view.
The national organisations
represented are N.Z. Angling & Casting Association, N.Z. Big
Game Fishing Council, N.Z. Trailer Boat Federation, N.Z. Marine
Transport Association, N.Z. Sports Industry Association and N.Z.
Underwater Association. The regional associations cover the whole
country and are in Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty/Waikato, Taranaki,
Wellington, Tasman Bay, and Otago. The Council also has some Maori
groups as members with Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu as a regional association.
We also maintain a close contact with many of the tribes affiliated
to Te Tai Tokerau in the north. Some of our larger member clubs
include the members of the Bucklands Beach Yacht Club, Mercury Bay
Ocean Sports Fishing Club, Whakatane Sports Fishing Club and Auckland's
Outboard Boating Club.
The membership represented
both directly and indirectly is in the vicinity of 300,000 recreational
and sustenance fishers. In addition by default we represent the
public interest in the fishery and those fishers who are non-members.
We say by default because we are the only constituted representative
body that has been recognised by Government and the Courts of doing
so.
The Council has a Board of
elected officers and members. The Council consults with its members
and the public using various means. These include newsletters, its
web site and various press releases. In addition it consults through
the various fishing media and meetings it holds and receives input
through those forum.
General
comment.
The Council has responded
in raising the various issues currently up for discussion in response
to the Minister of Fisheries request. As a national representative
organisation we see it as our responsibility to bring issues of
concern to the recreational fishing community, forward to you so
that we may use the formal processes to allow our members and the
wider fishing community to make an informed comment.
Council representatives along
with invited interested parties have participated in the process
to date in attending joint meetings with Ministry officials. In
doing so we have brought forward the views of our members and those
of the newly formed recreational forums who have submitted input
at the time. During these discussions we acknowledge the formal
release of the IPP and agree that this paper fairly reflects the
views presented for public discussion.
We are aware that many individuals
and some of our national and regional members are submitting their
own submissions and we encourage their participation in this process.
We have been privy to the submission of Option 4 (a fisheries lobby
group) and NZ Big Game Fishing Council and acknowledge their participation
in this process.
Summary.
The NZRFC Executive would
like to thank the Ministry of Fisheries for the opportunity to review
key issues of concern to the fishing. We have a long history of
working with the Ministry Officials and in most cases we have prepared
submissions for and on behalf of our members. We note the Ministry
of Fisheries acknowledgement of the NZRFC participation in this
process throughout the IPP. However on this occasion we see our
role as being one of a facilitator in raising the initial issues
for debate and a conduit of discussion information rather than one
of being one of the adjudicator of opinion. We believe this role,
is best served by the Ministry of Fisheries.
In
conclusion;
We note that we still have
two items of unfinished business on the table and would draw the
Ministries attention to our requests pertaining an increase in the
Coromandle scallop bag limit and the use of cray loops. We would
ask that the Ministry places some urgency on resolving these two
outstanding issues.
Finally we thank the Ministry
of Fisheries for the opportunity to participate and have input into
the proposals to amend some aspects of the Amateur Fishing Regulations.
Yours in fishing.
Keith Ingram
President
NZRFC
Back
to Regulation Review index page here » » »
|
