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 ]
