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Promises
for Improved Fisheries Management
NZ
Fishing News
August 2005
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This article was originally
published in the New Zealand Fishing News September 2005 edition.
Fisheries
Management
Response to fisheries management
proposals dominated the option4 team's effort in July. The Ministry
of Fisheries (MFish) advised us on 1 st July that the Initial Position
Paper (IPP) for snapper 8 (west coast North Island) had been sent
out for consultation. Unfortunately hard copy of the IPP did not
arrive until 4th July, leaving us 25 days to respond.
Included in the IPP were proposals
for the flounder (FLA1), grey mullet (GMU1), rig (SPO1 & SPO3)
and west coast kingfish (KIN8) fish stocks. Submission deadline
for these reviews was also set for 29th July.
Draft submissions have been compiled
and posted online for feedback. A Newsflash
(#1) was sent out to the option4 database on 19th July to alert
people to the reviews and asking for their feedback. option4 have
also drafted a discussion paper on the proportional allocation model
being promoted in the latest IPPs. Feedback is being sought from
the public and the intention is to include the final document in
the submissions to the SNA8, GMU1, kahawai and regulation
reviews.
Deadline Amendment
MFish advised us four days
before the submission deadline that an extension had been granted
and the new deadline for all the submissions was 10th August. This
was welcome news as option4 had not had time to consult or design
a consultation process that reflected the importance of these fisheries
to the public and worthy of as much input as possible.
NZRFC
Conference
Several of the option4
team attended the NZ Recreational Fishing Council conference and
AGM in Wellington on the second weekend of July. Amongst the many
speakers was David Benson-Pope, Minister of Fisheries. His
message was very positive from our perspective as he announced
"a new policy idea – that species important to recreational
fishers should be managed above, or even significantly above, what
fisheries documents refer to as Bmsy – the size of a fish
stock that delivers the maximum sustainable yield."
(Note: A list of questions were given
to the Minister at the Conference. Benson-Pope responded with answers
the following day. Questions
and answers are here......(PDF 170Kb) )
Later in the Conference
it was announced by MFish that two more IPPs had been released.
The review of selected amateur fisheries regulations was underway
as was the new proposals for the kahawai stocks. Deadline for responses
was set one week after the previous consultation round, on 5th August
2005.
option4 strongly object to
the short timeframes being offered by the Ministry of Fisheries
for submission deadlines. The fisheries being reviewed are of immense
importance to recreational and Maori customary interests. We do
not have the capacity or resources to fully consult and respond
adequately in less that a month.
Kahawai
Legal Challenge
Paul Barnes, Scott Macindoe
and Trish Rea attended a meeting with the Hesketh Henry legal team
and the QC reviewing the case being prepared for High Court action
in regards to the Minister's 2004 kahawai decision. The outcome
of the QC review was presented and the joint teams of option4, the
NZ Big Game Fishing Council (NZBGFC) and the NZRFC are expected
to make final preparations for filing of legal proceedings as soon
as possible.
Consultation
with Maori
Ongoing concerns regarding
our access to fisheries has kept the option4 team focused on working
with Maori to achieve the common goal of "more
fish in the water" as decided at the inaugural hui
of non-commercial fishing interests at Whitiora Marae at the end
of April.
Following on from the successful
hui another was arranged for the end of July. Many representatives
from the non-commercial fishing fraternity and environmental groups
were present to participate in discussions on fisheries management
and marine protection tools available through the Maori customary
regulations. The Ministry of Fisheries were invited to make several
presentations to the hui, this generated vigorous and healthy debate
at times. A document was drafted and unanimously passed by all those
at Whakamaharatanga Marae describing the outcome and a plan to progress
issues discussed over the three days of the hui.
The hospitality provided
by the Hokianga hapu of the Ngapuhi iwi was outstanding. The generosity
and willingness to make us welcome was heart warming and was a major
contributor in the successful outcome of the hui. Encouraged by
the success, another hui is planned within four to six weeks to
continue the progress we are making.
www.option4.co.nz
Over 50 new pages were added
to the website during July. Current proposals from MFish are available
to be read, downloaded and responded to. The public are being encouraged
to provide feedback on the draft submissions from option4. Details
of drafts as follows:
Proportion Allocation
https://option4.co.nz/Fisheries_Mgmt/proportion_draft.htm
Snapper 8 (SNA8)
https://option4.co.nz/Fisheries_Mgmt/sna8submission_draft.htm
Flounder (FLA1)
https://option4.co.nz/Fisheries_Mgmt/flounder.htm
Grey Mullet (GMU1)
https://option4.co.nz/Fisheries_Mgmt/mullet.htm
Kahawai (KAH)
https://kahawai.co.nz/kahawai05.htm
Kingfish (KIN8)
https://option4.co.nz/Fisheries_Mgmt/kin8submission_draft.htm
Regulation Review
https://option4.co.nz/Fisheries_Mgmt/corosca.htm
Next
Moves
Maori and non-Maori recreational
representatives are committed to achieving better fisheries management
and protection of our inshore marine environment. option4 are keen
to participate in the next hui with Ngapuhi and other iwi. With
our fishing interests so closely aligned it makes good sense for
us to progress discussions as it has become obvious to us that we
will not achieve our aspirations for our fishing future if we do
not combine our effort with tangata whenua.
Their willingness to share
their marine protection tools with us, the public who have very
few options for managing our inshore areas at a local level, is
encouraging. No doubt there will be hiccups along the way but the
relationships being built with Ngapuhi and other iwi offers a promising
fishing future for us all.
If you value the work option4
is doing please use the secure online facility available
here and invest in your fishing future.
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