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4
May 2001
Steve Chadwick
Member of Parliament
C/- Parliament Buildings
WELLINGTON
Dear Steve
Re: The
rights of the NZ Public to go fishing
You will
be aware that Government is reviewing the management of the
marine recreational fisheries at present and is expecting
that Ministry of Fisheries and other officials will be ready
to report back to Cabinet by the end of June 2001.
In response
to the Minister of Fisheries' review we have formed "option4.co.nz." "Option4.co.nz" represents 45 Fishing
Associations /Councils and 70,000 members of the public who
are committed to ensure that the following set of guiding
principles are used to protect the rights of the New Zealand
public to harvest seafood for this and future generations.
- That
priority of non-commercial fishers over commercial fishers
be reinstated;
- That
non-commercial fishers have an area right capable of excluding
bulk commercial methods that deplete recreationally important
areas;
- A planning
right that would ensure any fish conserved for non-commercial
fishers could not be taken by the commercial sector;
- No
licensing, levy or any other compulsory funding schemes
for non-commercial fishers.
We have
been asked by members in your electorate to canvas and seek
your views about the above issues as soon as possible.
Accordingly
we invite you to confirm your position by providing us with
answers to the following questions prior to May 30th, 2001.
- Do
you regard yourself as a marine recreational/sustenance
fisher?
- Given
that fisheries must be managed within sustainable limits,
do you believe that the priority of non-commercial fishing
over commercial fishers must be reinstated?
- Do
you believe marine recreational/sustenance fishers should
have an area right capable of excluding bulk commercial
methods that deplete recreationally important areas?
- Do
you believe marine recreational/sustenance fishers should
have a planning right to provide for future generations?
- Are
you for or against the Crown imposing licensing levies on
marine recreational/sustenance fishers?
We also
invite you to check us out at our web site www.option4.co.nz
and/or visit our stand at the Auckland Boat Show at Queen's
Birthday Weekend .
We look
forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours
sincerely
Paul Barnes
Project Leader, Option4
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