Commonsense
Needed in Fisheries Management
Kahawai
Challenge team
July
2005
Kahawai Legal Challenge
Update New Zealand Fishing News
August 2005 edition
If you ever wondered why
your representatives are putting so much energy into the Kahawai
Legal Challenge you need to look no further than the Ministry
of Fisheries latest proposals to constrain recreational fishing.
Kahawai, snapper, grey
mullet and flounder are all having their catch limits reviewed
and the Ministry are once again promoting a proportional system
that gives preference to the fishing industry.
Proportional
Allocation
The idea that recreational
fishers be allocated a fixed share of the catch was promoted and
overwhelmingly rejected during the Soundings process in 2000.
A record 60,000 people submitted to the Soundings process against
the proportional allocation model. This is because a proportional
system leaves the public with the left overs of a poorly implemented
Quota Management System (QMS).
One of the worst aspects
of proportional allocations is that in depleted fisheries, which
all of the ones under review are, recreational catches have been
suppressed by excessive commercial effort. As the stock size (biomass)
has fallen recreational catches have also fallen. Currently in
all these fisheries non-commercial fishers are catching fewer
fish, smaller fish or both. Non-commercial catches are at or near
their lowest ever levels.
The proportional system
promoted by the Ministry then takes our already reduced catches
as a starting point from which to cut recreational bag limits.
Clearly, this is a double jeopardy outcome. Our catches have been
adversely affected during the overfishing and then they are cut
further.
Meanwhile the fishing industry
maintains its catch throughout the overfishing phase and in many
cases, exceeds its catch through deeming excess catch or dumping
it when the deeming option is too expensive. Deeming is a mechanism
where fishers pay an instant fine if they don't hold enough quota
to cover their overcatch.
On top of this, when commercial
quotas were initially allocated they were set at levels that would
allow inshore fisheries that had been seriously depleted by commercial
overfishing, to recover. Instead of commercial fishermen accepting
the new catch limits many used the Quota Appeals Authority (QAA)
to inflate their quota. Quotas in some fisheries increased by
30% or more above the safe harvest level that had been set by
the scientists.
The Ministry failed to
act to bring those quotas back down to the safe level that would
allow these fisheries to rebuild even though the fishing industry
had been paid compensation to fish at the lower level.
In some of these fisheries
the QAA has issued so much additional quota that the fishing industry
has been unable to catch anywhere near what has been set. This
is strange because the primary function of the QMS was to constrain
commercial catch. So the poor implementation of the QMS has led
to uncapped commercial fishing effort in some of our most important
shared fisheries.
option4's position is clear,
the Ministry must look at the cause of depletion when it allocates
fisheries resources. When the cause is as clear as it is in these
fisheries then the Ministry must act fairly and must reduce the
catches of those who have caused the depletion. Where that depletion
has had adverse impacts on non-commercial catch the injustice
must be undone and non-commercial access restored to a healthy
fish stock. Most importantly this has to be done in a way that
does not further erode non-commercial rights, we should not be
penalised twice for the overfishing of others.
Conservation
= Reallocation
Many people are under the
illusion that if we conserve fish it will make a difference. Under
the proportional system the Ministry is trying to inflict on non-commercial
fishers, conservation works against our interests. Proof of that
is in the decision regarding kingfish. Many years of tagging and
releasing kingfish by the recreational sector was disregarded
when the Minister based the recreational allowance on current
use (at the time). By ignoring what people had conserved over
many years the Minister effectively used fish conserved by non-commercial
fishers to prop up excessive commercial quotas. The fish did not
stay in the water.
Until we have a planning
right that allows us to leave conserved fish in the water option4
is against any further constraints on recreational fishing.
Poor
Process
This years proposals are
marked by a new low in poor process by the Ministry of Fisheries.
Submissions deadlines for the Initial Position Papers (IPPs) from
the Ministry are inadequate. Due date for comments on snapper,
grey mullet and flounder are due on 29 th July and the following
week submissions for kahawai and Coromandel scallops are due.
Less than a months time
to consult with a million non-commercial fishers is appalling.
It begs the question, do Ministry really want to consult with
you?
Your
Opportunity
The Ministry appears to
have adopted a position that could see your rights to fish seriously
eroded. The best way for you to get involved in the process this
year and let them know what you think is by using the online submission
form at option4's website. The Ministry proposals, option4 recommendations
and submission forms are all in one place.
Please take the opportunity
to have your say on the future management of kahawai, snapper,
mullet, flounder and the regulation review including scallops
at the following addresses.
Kahawai
https://www.kahawai.co.nz/kahawai05.htm
Snapper
https://option4.co.nz/Fisheries_Mgmt/snapper8.htm
Mullet
https://option4.co.nz/Fisheries_Mgmt/mullet.htm
Flounder
https://option4.co.nz/Fisheries_Mgmt/flounder.htm
Scallops
https://option4.co.nz/Fisheries_Mgmt/corosca.htm
Kahawai
Legal Challenge
The legal case challenging
the Minister's 2004 kahawai decision is almost finalised. A Queens
Counsel, at an additional cost of $20,000, is currently reviewing
the evidence. The legal fees are mounting and at the moment these
expenses are being underwritten on your behalf. If you have been
helping with the fundraising thank you for your effort. Please
keep those Booklets secure and continue to use them to generate
support for our campaign. We have got a lot of work to do. Next
month we hope to be announcing the filing of the Statement of
Claim. When we do, be assured we will be contact as soon as possible
to advise of the next steps in the process.
If you want to help its
not too late.
Please:
-
Call 0800 KAHAWAI
(52 42 92) to find out more.
-
Go to www.kahawai.co.nz
and order your Supporters Pack online.
-
Simply dial 0900
KAHAWAI (52 42 92) to make a $20.00 donation. The $20 donation
will be debited to your phone account. Please do this more
than once.
-
Email us at contact@kahawai.co.nz
