Bay of Plenty recreational fishers are facing significant restrictions on snapper catches under new proposals to manage depleted stock - a move one recreational advocate labels a 'slap in the face”.

Last week Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) released a paper outlining three options for snapper regulations in Snapper Fishery 1, which spans the Bay of Plenty, Hauraki Gulf and East Northland.

Recreational fishing advocates are shocked at the proposed options to reduce bag limits and increase the minimum legal size.

The release is the beginning of a six-week debate between recreational and commercial fishermen over who should be responsible for replenishing the fishery.

Snapper 1 is New Zealand's most popular recreational fishery and is the country's fifth-most-valuable commercial fishery by asset value.

According to MPI, in Snapper 1 recreational fishers' current take averages about 3365 tonnes above the 2550 tonne allowance set in 1997.

The paper says even if the total allowable catch was raised by 500 tonnes and shared proportionally, the recreational take would still need to come down by 635 tonnes, with bag limits cut to four unless the minimum size was raised to 33cm.

Currently the total commercial, recreational and customary catch sits at a combined 7550 tonnes.

Options for recreational fishers include reducing bag limits from nine to three, increasing the minimum legal size from 27cm to 35cm, or opting for a combination of the two.

LegaSea spokesperson Mandy Kupenga says the recreational advocacy group is shocked at the proposals in what leaves the commercial sector largely unaffected.

'This proposal is a slap in the face for New Zealanders and we intend to fight to defend our rights.

'It's a national disgrace that all options proposed by the government force recreational anglers to shoulder the responsibility for rebuilding Snapper 1 stocks, while the commercial sector continue to kill hundreds of thousands of juvenile fish with antiquated and indiscriminate bulk trawl methods.”

The irony is these cuts are predicted to improve the stock size less than one per cent by the end of 2018, less than the margin of error.

New Zealand Fishing News editor Grant Dixon believes overall the snapper stock is rebuilding and generally commercial and recreational catch rates have increased. Except in the Bay of Plenty, where that part of the stock is considered ‘collapsed', at just six per cent of its original size.

He adds the reduction in the snapper bag limits Snapper 1 recreational take would have an immediate and negative effect, reaching far beyond the snapper stocks themselves.

'There is a huge industry based around the snapper fishery in this region. It is not just the individual anglers affected but recreational fishing media, charter boats, tackle stores, bait companies, accommodation providers and the marine industry as a whole.”

Tauranga Sport Fishing Club's club manager Grant Holley will not comment on suggested options saying the recreational sector needs one spokesperson rather than everyone having differing viewpoints.

'These are only options and I think there is still room for movement. I think it is still too soon to comment and there are enough people commenting at the moment.

'I was forewarned about this a while back but didn't think the cuts would be this drastic. I know most of our guys impose a minimum of 30cm.”

New Zealand Fishing News editor Grant Dixon believes the reduction in the snapper bag limits for Snapper 1 recreational take would have an immediate and negative effect, reaching far beyond the snapper stocks themselves.

'There is a huge industry based around the snapper fishery in this region. It is not just the individual anglers affected but recreational fishing media, charter boats, tackle stores, bait companies, accommodation providers and the marine industry as a whole.

'It is a short sighted approach, especially when you stack up the recreational and economic benefits to the community when compared to the value of the commercial catch.”

Independent Tauranga MP Brendan Horan has also come out swinging at Fisheries Minister Nathan Guy claiming the Government are rushing through bad legislation with no thought for proper democratic process.

'It's outrageous that the Government are gutting the allowable take of snapper yet giving New Zealanders less than six weeks to comment,” says Brendan.

He is adamant a more viable option would be leaving the maximum catch alone along with extending the minimum size to 30cm, increasing minimum mesh sizes and properly enforcing regulations applying to foreign fishing vessels in New Zealand waters.

'I will champion the cause of people who want to put a meal on the family table.

'Anybody unhappy with the Government's changes can contact me to put a stop to this madness.”

But MPI fisheries management director James Stevenson-Wallace says the Ministry recognises New Zealand fish stocks are a valuable resource and is committed to sustainable fisheries.

'The review of fish stocks is an important annual process that considers catch limits and other management controls. The review is all about both increasing the productivity of the fisheries and ensuring their long-term sustainability.”

A series of public information sessions on the options will be held in Tauranga, Auckland and Whangarei in the coming months. Submissions to the MPI on the proposed management options close on 23 August.