After the Accord’s hui in June mid north iwi, amateur fishing groups and three environmental organisations sent a joint letter to the Minister expressing our concerns about the Fisheries 2030 proposals.
Great potential
While we understand the government’s intention of improving the economic returns from our fisheries, we believe there is greater potential in giving meaningful effect to the statutory obligations on the Minister to have particular regard to kaitiakitanga/guardianship of our taonga, our fisheries and environment.
To assist the Minister we proposed an alternative management strategy that, amongst other things, outlines practical measures to improve harvesting techniques and the economic returns from our fisheries. We have since been invited to Wellington in early August, to discuss this alternative strategy with the Minister.
Benefits of implementing these measures include providing food and jobs for New Zealanders, while reducing the risks to the health and abundance of our fisheries and marine environment.
Maori’s long-term interests in fish span all facets of commercial, customary, and amateur fishing and environmental sustainability. So it is natural for us to be concerned when the government proposes short-term solutions, which will most likely translate into greater commercial catch.
To us this means more dead fish and a further threat to the health of our seas.
There are better ways to increase the value from our fisheries. Stocks managed at higher levels would produce sufficient fish to fulfil each sector’s needs while ensuring our mokopuna/grandchildren enjoy access to abundant fisheries.
Further information is online at the Fisheries 2030 page.....
