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Report on Public Meeting
Great Barrier Island Marine Reserve
Venue: Laingholm Fishing Club, Laingholm, Waitakere City
Date: Monday 26 May 2003
Chair: Rick Nancarrow, Laingholm Fishing Club
Duration: 1.5 hours
Attendance: 13 people, including 3 DoC representatives.
Introduction
Presentation
Fisheries concerns
Commercial fishing
Policing
Consultation
Feedback
Introduction
Rick Nancarrow of the Laingholm Fishing Club called the meeting so the local people and fishing club members in particular could discuss the marine reserve proposal with the Department of Conservation (DoC). Emma Rush from DoC presented the proposal document and advised they would be accepting submissions from the public regarding the proposal. “Ideally we want feedback by the 30th June.”
Presentation
Emma explained the process for marine reserve applications. Marine reserves were for scientific research, to protect biodiversity, restoration of the marine environment and although marine reserves are beneficial to fish stocks, this was incidental to their purpose.
Roger Grace (DoC) discussed the destruction of habitat. Marine Reserves are DoC’s tool for conservation in the sea. They are recognised as being at the top end of the range of tools for marine protection.
Roger discussed marine reserves as being an insurance policy for species. Ministry of Fisheries (MFish) manage the fish stocks at Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY), this translates to 20% of the virgin stock level for snapper.
Fisheries Concerns
Trish Rea from option4 discussed with Roger the notion of “insurance policy” for fish stocks. With migratory fish stocks the value of a marine reserve would have to be questioned. Marine Reserves only stop fishing, nothing else, so what would be the value of displacing fishing effort?
Roger’s opinion is the snapper at Leigh are “coming back, it will take up to five years before the crayfish become spectacular. Some marine reserves are a bit on the small size to be effective for some species. Crayfish numbers are on the decline on Great Barrier Island.”
Rob McCallum (DoC) stated, “the islanders want some sort of protection, a fish breeding area. Marine reserves can contribute to the fishery. You can enjoy conservation for conservation’s sake.”
Commercial Fishing
A questionnaire is currently being distributed amongst commercial fishers who use the area proposed for a marine reserve at Great Barrier Island. The results will be available from Ministry of Fisheries.
Trish Rea stated MFish are responsible for fisheries management and if they (DoC) were really serious about the positive effects of a marine reserve in the area then DoC should have carried out research in the Navy degaussing zone adjacent to the proposed reserve area. The Navy zone has not been fished, legally, for over 50 years. That area would surely be proof of the benefits of no fishing. Roger said the Navy area was not big enough to “display any benefits.”
There was some discussion about the impact of commercial fishing on fish stocks, and the management under QMS.
Policing
DoC have 1200 staff nationwide, there are not enough staff on Great Barrier Island to police an area the size of the proposed marine reserve. Policing will be a joint effort between NZ Navy, Customs, MFish and DoC staff.
Consultation
In response to a question of an extension to the submission deadline Emma Rush said, “ you’ve had three months so far, an extension maybe considered.”
Rob McCullum responded to a question regarding the local iwi opinion, “ the general view is that they are supportive of the proposal. The trust board will be responding. Maori are not against marine reserves.”
Trish Rea reiterated the need for the submission deadline to be extended for a period of six months due to the public not being aware of the proposal. Trish also advised that the question had been put to an earlier public meeting regarding DoC providing money to balance the other side of the debate. The answer from DoC was no.
Feedback
No vote was taken for or against the proposal.
Security of submissions are guaranteed by voting through the option4 website.
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