Office of Hon Pete Hodgson
MP for Dunedin North
Minister of Energy
Minister of Forestry
Minister for Small Business
Associate Minister for Economic Development
Associate Minister for Industry
& Regional Development

Minister of Fisheries
Minister of Research, Science &Technology
Minister for Crown Research Institutes
Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Minister Responsible for Timberlands
West Coast Ltd

7 JUN 2001

Mr Paul Barnes
18 Styca Place
Henderson
Auckland

Dear Mr Barnes

RIGHTS OF THE NEW ZEALAND PUBLIC TO GO FISHING

Firstly let me state once again: licensing is not government policy, nor is it Labour Party policy. I have already ruled out licensing as a potential outcome of the review of recreational fishing rights.

'Planning rights', or the right to participate and develop plans to manage recreational fishing, is an important component of recreational fishing rights. That right exists at present to some degree through the requirement to consult with recreational interests when I make decisions that affect recreational fishing. How to go about improving this right to participate
was a key component of the consultation document 'Soundings' and it will be addressed in the current process to strengthen recreational fishing rights.

Recreational fishing has never had unrestricted priority over commercial fishing in law. In practice, the allocation for recreational fishing is the result of my discretion to allow for noncommercial interests when determining the shares in the fishery. Clarifying the relationship between customary, recreational and commercial entitlements may well be a useful step in strengthening recreational fishing rights. However a share of the allowable catch is not necessarily sufficient to provide for the objectives of recreational fishers. It cannot, for example, ensure that catch rates and quality do not decline in inshore areas.

Similarly 'area rights' are a component of recreational fishing rights at present. Large areas of New Zealand's inshore fisheries are closed to various forms of bulk commercial fishing. How this right is exercised in the future is being considered as part of the current process to strengthen
recreational fishing rights. An unfettered right to exclude all others from the fishery without concern for their rights is not on the agenda however.

When making fisheries management decisions, I have, and will continue to have, regard for all interest groups. For many New Zealanders access to fish resources is through the availability of fish to buy be it at supermarkets or at fish and chip shops. Supplies of fresh New Zealand fish to this market depends on commercial fishers. For the benefit of all New Zealanders, the government will continue to make balanced decisions that consider customary, recreational and commercial interests in the fishery.

Strengthening recreational fishing rights is an important part of the current review, however there are also other goals. Recreational fishing suffers from a lack of information about the extent and nature of fishing activity. Improving the information that we have about recreational fishing will be an important component of the current review. I will also consider
better mechanisms to determine recreational objectives and enhanced mechanisms to manage towards those objectives.

Yours sincerely

Hon Pete Hodgson
Minister of Fisheries