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Marine Reserves - Twisting the
Truth
NZ
Fishing News
October 2003
Dear [ subscriber ]
Tiritiri
NZUA spokesperson Peter Crabb is reported as describing the submitters
who oppose the marine reserve as a "small, vocal" community
in Whangaparaoa (Herald 15/8/03). It is not acceptable to have an
organisation like NZUA promote a proposal and limit their process
to "local community" and then condemn those who oppose
their proposal as "local vocals". It is this sort of behaviour
that will destroy the credibility of the whole marine reserve argument.
In the same article NZUA are reported as saying "support for
the proposal is around 85 per cent when measured in the way DoC
does it". What is the DoC way of measuring the results of public
consultation? We will find out and let you know. As we write this
we have not received any analysis of any of this years marine reserve
public consultation outcomes.
Volkner Rocks
The Volkner Rocks marine reserve proposal is exactly that - a proposal,
nothing more or less. DoC have yet to release their analysis of
submissions. It comes as a surprise to read that the Minister of
Conservation regards the proposal as a "formal application
at an advanced state" (his written
reply to a written question put to him in Parliament 12/8/03).
What is going on? Either he is running ahead of himself (inappropriately)
or his officials are misleading him and us.
Great Barrier
On 18/6/03 when addressing the Hauraki Gulf Forum, the Auckland
Conservator Rob McCallum, stated that "of the 200 submissions
opened at that time, 60% supported
the proposal."
60% support for WHAT? The only question in the questionnaire that
could offer an answer to an analysis of this type asks, "Do
you support the principle of a marine reserve somewhere on the north
east coast of Great Barrier Island?". What sort of a question
is that? How can we have confidence in the process if the leader
of the organisation proposing, analysing and applying for this marine
reserve feels OK about making these sort of statements?
At that same meeting he
stated that "98% of the Hauraki Gulf has no form of marine
protection" - untrue and unjustifiable. The entire Gulf has
quite high levels of protection with the much vaunted QMS in place.
There are innumerable other examples of specific protection in place
such as trawl exclusion zones, cable zones, commercial scallop dredging
exclusion zones, military no go areas etc - all told these make
up a significant proportion of the waters of the Gulf.
Analysis of the estimated
1800 submissions to the DoC marine reserve proposal at Great Barrier
has started. Results should be available for review by the end of
September. We will keep you posted on the outcome and future plans
for this area.
Auckland Conservation Board
We have invited the Board to discuss the need for an integrated
approach to protection of the marine environment. We believe it
is fundamental that groups of this nature who wholeheartedly support
marine reserves cast their focus wider and achieve an appreciation
of all of the threats and all of the mechanisms available to achieve
marine protection. Please read the content of the invitation
here » »
Auckland's West Coast
Submissions for the proposal from the West Coast Working Group close
30th September. Make sure you have your say online at www.option4.co.nz/
wcpsubform.php . Sand and Sea, the group opposing the plan, held
a fishing contest on Muriwai Beach Sunday 24th August. The event
was well supported by sponsors and contestants. Sand and Sea are
planning another event at Port Waikato soon. Check out www.sandandsea.co.nz
for details.
Reserve Summary
option4 have endeavoured to bring these proposals and their processes
to the attention of the public. We have consistently endeavoured
to present the original proposal documents in their entirety, support
them with as much relevant background information as available and
then offer the public an opportunity to make (online) submission
with all of this relevant information available. All of the marine
reserve proposals that option4 have responded to may be viewed here
» »
Kingfish
The Minister is about to announce his decision on the allocation
of the Total Allowable Catch for kingfish for the first time as
the species enters the QMS. This decision is effective 1/10/03.
option4 have assembled the relevant background information on site
to record, in perpetuity, the process and rationale behind the Ministers
decision. You can read some or all of these documents, including
a number of submissions on the final decision making
process here. Next month we will analyse the Ministers final
decision.
Supporters
option4 would like to thank Rex and the team at Quadprint for supplying
printing services. Without support from concerned companies and
individuals option4 would not be able to continue the advocacy we
have engaged in over the past three years. Keep it up, your support
is appreciated by the public of New Zealand.
Regards from the team at option4
[ footing ]
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