Present:

Scott Macindoe - Chairman
Paul Barnes - Project Leader
Peggy Barnes - Secretary
Geoff Thomas
Diane O¹Sullivan
Kim Walshe
John Holdsworth

Bernie Ward
Don Glass
Bob Burstall
Bill Cooke
Andy Hellesoe
Trish Rea

1. Sporting Industry Association agreement with Sanford's to sponsor Take A Kid Fishing
   1. Issue is with principle # 9 of Terms of Contract - "Defined proportional shares for each of the stakeholder user groups offer the greatest incentives for user groups to co-operate and work together to achieve the most sustainable and transparent regime"
   2. Bob explained the NZRFC can only advise the SIA, SIA executive make their own decisions. It was discussed at the Executive meeting of RFC prior to their AGM and prior to signing off. Clearly, the SIA executive was aware that Proportional Shares are not part of RFC policy
   3. Agreed that meeting with SIA would be pursued with outcome hopefully being withdrawal of the reference to proportional shares.
   4. Agreed that it was unlikely that their member organizations were aware of the implications of agreeing to such a principle in the face of such overwhelming opposition from their customers.
   5. Agreed there was good opportunity to use the dialogue with SIA to get closer ties with them and understanding of option4 principles.
2. Kaipara Fishing Plan
   1. Bill, Diane and Scott offered observations of Dargaville public meeting - see Public Meeting Report
   2. option4 support a separate QMA area for Kaipara
   3. This could also put extra pressure on harbour fishery i.e. opposite effect to what the locals want.
   4. Option4 will be a strong presence at the Helensville meeting - 1/11/01
   5. Dianne & John to formulate a draft submission and a draft one page option4 fisheries plan policy.
3. Fiordland - Guardians of Fiordland Proposal
   1. option4 seriously contest proposals indicated to date.
   2. Commercial take is 97% of take in Sounds
   3. Letter to be written to Minister of Fisheries re this proposal
   4. Bernie, Bill & Dave Craze to draft this letter
4. Read Direct fundraising offer
   1. option4 have been offered a percentage of book sales as a fundraising opportunity by Read Direct
   2. Agreed option4 will offer it to option4 supporters and monitor its success
   3. Explanation to be given to supporters when offer is made reassuring them that all supporter details remain strictly confidential to option4
   4. Scott to confirm details with Read Direct
5. Fund Raising
   1. Need to formulate strategic marketing plan
   2. Need to raise funds for legal opinion - need a person to be present at Management meetings with MoF to secure full background of all decisions.
   3. The process is waiting for us to get our legal opinion. Good time to launch the barometer/indicator to show funds raised to date and funds needed to provide said legal opinion. Scott to construct with Lindsay
   4. Need to finalise the establishment of the Trust to manage funds - Bernie & Scott
   5. Set up "Thanks" page on website to acknowledge major contributors, sponsors and media's etc - Scott
   6. Need to draft article/ policy paper based on human rights - Paul
6. NZRFC Newsletter
   1. Acknowledge the latest newsletter is the opinions of individuals, rather than the council.
   2. option4 object to derogatory comments about option4 by these individuals
   3. Bob asked to ask NZRFC to elaborate on the 300,000 member claim. NZRFC to be asked to offer a breakdown.
7. Regulations
   1. Need credible regulations. All regulations affect someone's rights. If not in place for sustainability, then why ?
   2. Obvious need to review regulations. This has been promised by Ministry for over two years - no apparent progress by Ministry to date. An emphasis on the "silly" regulations and silly interpretations that are a hang over from historical situations.
   3. Silly regulations undermine the good regulations.
   4. Bill, Dianne & Kim to work on draft paper and letters.
8. 50 New Species in QMS
   1. option4 believe while our rights are under review there should be no additions of species to the Quota Management System
   2. Adequate provision has to be made for non-commercial interests - we certainly don't want to see piper mowed down to Bmsy.
   3. option4 want evidence of research results for each species before it is added to the QMS
   4. Felt that MSY was inappropriate management tool for many inshore shared fisheries.
9. MCG Summary
   1. Draft paper read out to group for discussion
   2. Summary seriously limited by what the Ministry are suggesting is available for publication
   3. Ongoing discussion happening with Ministry re what can be divulged from the 3 draft policy papers discussed during MCG round