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Report on Public Meeting
Great Barrier Island Marine Reserve
Venue: Great Barrier Social Club, Great Barrier Island
Date: Sunday 18th May 2003
Chair: Helen O’Shea, Community Board member
Duration: 2.5 hours
Attendance: 60 people
Introduction
Helen O’Shea introduced the Department of Conservation (DoC) manager Great Barrier, Dale Tawa. Dale introduced the DoC team of Jim Flack, Emma Rush and Dr. Roger Grace.
Dale “This is the third meeting we have held over the last two weeks on the island. The response has been, certainly the attendance has been very good right throughout the island.”
“The feelings have been very mixed but in general there is very little support for the marine reserve proposal in its current format. We’ve identified that at the last two meetings. However, there is some support for modifications to the current marine reserve proposal.”
Marine Reserve Presentation
Jim Flack, (DoC), Great Barrier – I apologise to the marine reserve proposal groupies who have been following us around the island but you’ve heard this before, but you’re going to hear this again.
Jim talked about fishing how good it had been in the past and the threat of big fish disappearing from around the island. He also explained that marine reserves are not fishery management tools but habitat management tools. . “This isn’t to preserve fish stocks; this isn’t a fisheries management tool.”
Questions
Dale, Jim and Dr. Roger Grace answered questions from the floor.
Shellfish gathering and fishing in the estuary were discussed, as there were concerns these activities would be stopped if a marine reserve were established. Dale explained “we have not and do not intend closing off the estuary to shellfish gathering, what we would like to see however is some form of management for pipi gathering within the estuary.” Other management tools such as taiapure and mataitai were available to be used with support from the community and tangata whenua.
Much of the discussion was around the previous marine reserve proposals put forward for the island and the rejection of those by the locals. Questions were asked if this proposal was rejected would DoC start again on another proposal or drop the idea all together. At the Fitzroy meeting an assurance was given that if the people of the north Barrier didn’t want the reserve it would not proceed.
Jim “It there is overwhelming opposition to that (proposal) it will not happen. I give you that guarantee. But we are optimistic and we are conservationists and yes we may come back with something else. I can’t say we are going to go away forever I can’t give you that guarantee.”
The marine reserve process was explained and the weighting that would be given to the submissions from island residents. Resident’s submissions would be given more consideration if the establishment of the reserve unduly affected them.
Dale gave an assurance that a Barrier resident would have preference for any concession activities that would be available in the reserve i.e. Sea kayak operations.
Feedback
There was a general feeling that this proposal was being discussed because the fisheries weren’t being managed and policed by the Ministry of Fisheries. More control on fishing methods and enforcement could achieve good management of the area.
Many people were against the reserve in its present form and also resentment that this was the third time many had been through the marine reserve process for their area and didn’t want to be undergoing the same process in the future.
Out of the audience of 60 people only 10% supported the marine reserve proposal.
Over 50% of those present voted against the proposal.
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