| Common
sense changes to amateur fishing regulations
Media
release
Minister
of Fisheries
9
December 2005
'Common sense' changes have
been made to the amateur fishing regulations after recommendations
by Minister of Fisheries Jim Anderton were agreed to at cabinet
this week. These will come into effect on 16 December this year,
in time for the coming holiday season.
"The changes have been
made in response to a series of issues identified by the New Zealand
Recreational Fishing Council as priorities for review, and after
feedback was received from stakeholders nationwide. They
will contribute to preserving people's enjoyment of recreational
fishing," Jim Anderton said.
The decisions on regulations
are:
1.
That divers be allowed to take extra bag limits of scallops and
dredge oysters for each of up to two safety people on board a fishing
vessel.
"It is important to encourage
divers to have a safety person on board the boat and giving them
extra bag limits provides a positive incentive to do this.
It must be clear, however, that this is not a precedent for other
species or for other situations," Jim Anderton said.
2. To retain
the regulations that mean scallops taken by divers must be counted
and measured at the first reasonable opportunity.
"The Ministry of Fisheries
will develop a code of practice to clarify the law in this area
and to guide the actions of the public and Fishery Officers.
3. That the use
of bobs and ring pots in taking crayfish be allowed, and that scoop
nets (landing nets) be allowed to be used to secure fish taken lawfully
by any method.
"I am not yet convinced that
hand-held lassoes should be permitted to be used in capturing a
crayfish.
4. That the recreational
daily bag limit of 20 for Coromandel scallops be retained.
"The Coromandel scallop
fishery is rebuilding from a period of historical decline and I
commend the recreational sector for its contribution to the management
of this important shared fishery. However, there is not yet
enough information available on the nature and extent of the scallop
fishery to support a bag limit increase.
"It is important
to retain regionally consistent bag limits to avoid confusion and
misunderstanding of the rules.
5. That the restrictions
around the use or possession of underwater breathing apparatus when
taking mussels be removed; however the current restrictions for
paua will be retained.
"A method control is no longer
necessary in the mussel fishery as there are no longer any significant
sustainability risks or poaching concerns in most areas.
"Considerable concerns
still exist for paua and I believe the prohibition on the use and
possession of underwater breathing apparatus remains an important
management tool for this fishery.
6. That scallops
and dredge oysters be allowed to be shucked and eaten while on board
a vessel, so long as the fish eaten form part of a fisher's daily
bag limit.
"Eating shellfish
while on your boat is now considered to be an essential part of
the recreational experience. The requirement to observe daily
bag limits and size limits will of course remain, as will the requirement
to land the uneaten shellfish in their shell," Jim Anderton said.
Contact:
Jim Anderton 021 777 680
OR Joy
Gribben 04 471 9172, 027 407 6719
To
read the August 2005 option4 submission to the regulation review
please go here » »
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