Nugget Point

This article was originally published in the Southland Times 5 November 2004

It was "really disappointing" that a petition opposing the Department of Conservation's proposed marine reserve at Nugget Point was circulating so early in the public consultation process, DOC spokeswoman Nicola Vallance said yesterday.

Ms Vallance was commenting on a petition organised by Nugget Point Recreational Fishing Club president Nelson Cross that has already attracted 200 signatures in and around the seaside town.

Mr Cross said the petition showed most people - the town's population is about 260 - were against the reserve.

But Ms Vallance said it was "really disappointing, just as we're beginning the consultation process, that many people signing the petition haven't had the chance to take in all the information and make up their minds on that basis".

As part of the Government's biodiversity strategy, DOC is revisiting the idea of a marine reserve at Nugget Point, first raised and then shelved in the early 1990s, through meetings to gauge public opinion.

Mr Cross said DOC was not sincere in its consultation process.

Commenting on the first two drop-in forums, held in Kaka Point last week, he said: "Holding the drop-ins from 10am to 5pm on weekdays effectively precludes everyone who works from having any say in it."

Ms Vallance said the department was arranging more drop-ins over a weekend, with dates to be announced soon.

Mr Cross was also sceptical about DOC's plan to hold forums and public meetings in Dunedin.

Ms Vallance said while DOC appreciated that a reserve would affect the community, "there's a wide level of public interest nationally and that's why we're consulting widely. It's not just a local issue."

Another area where DOC was "misleading" was its claim that boats carrying fish caught outside the reserve could travel through and anchor in it without penalty, Mr Cross said.

"What DOC isn't saying is that under the new Marine Reserves Act, currently before Parliament, the fisher (in that situation) can be challenged over a long list of new offences and can be fined $2000 on the spot for a suspected offence."

But Ms Vallance said that was not true.

"Under the new bill, you can transport fish caught outside a marine reserve through the reserve, and you can launch a boat in and out of a marine reserve. What you can't do is land a fish (in a reserve)."

About 60 people had attended the drop-ins, 30 of whom had left their names, she said.

"Of the 60, about two-thirds, most of whom were recreational fishers, were against.

"Their comments ranged from being totally against the reserve to being for them (in general) but `not in my back yard'.

"About 20 people supported the proposal. Their comments ranged from total support to reluctance to attend meetings or publicly voice their support."