Bay of Plenty recreational fishers are seeking a louder voice if there is to be a more level playing field in fishing quotas and regulations ensuring they are not shut out by the commercial sector.
Speaking with Labour's spokesperson for fisheries Damien O'Connor, Tauranga and Mount Maunganui fishermen and members of the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council aired their concerns on the current fishing landscape in the Bay.
Labour's spokesperson for fisheries Damien O'Connor outside Mount Maunganui's Sports Fishing Club.
The meeting at Mount Maunganui's Sports Fishing Club overnight saw Damien field questions primarily about the new snapper limits, with the anglers saying the cuts to recreational limits put them on an uneven playing field against commercial trawlers.
New Zealand Sports Fishing Council and Tauranga Sports Club member Deryk Neilson says recreational fishers want more of a say in the democratic process, providing local information, opposed to being told what the outcome is.
'It just seems to be a forked tongue. We have one thing and then the next we have something completely different.
'The playing field needs to be levelled out a bit. The quota is much harder on recreational fishers and what they are allowed to take and now we are penalised even more.”
From April 1 snapper bag limits for recreational fishers are reduced from nine to seven per day, with the minimum size rising from 27- 30cm.
These new limits apply to all recreational fishers in the Snapper 1 region – including North Cape and the Eastern Bay of Plenty.
Commercial fishers can still take 25cm snapper and their total catch limit remains unchanged at 4500 tonnes.
There are no changes to the bag limits minimum legal sizes outside the area.
Damien says the party cannot make any promises, with party policies yet to be finalised, but acknowledges the uneven ruling is a crucial issues that needs addressing.
'Labour is committed to being fair across recreational fishermen, commercial fishermen and iwi.
'A healthy fishery is important for everyone in New Zealand.”
He says the fairness between the commercial and recreational sectors is unbalanced and the load of helping the sector recover cannot be placed squarely on the recreational sector.
'If there are issues with fisheries then everyone must share responsibility to give back and assist with its replenishment.
'We cannot expect the recreational sector to bear the brunt of it to improve the health of the fisheries.”
4 comments
one rule for all
Posted on 30-04-2014 11:57 | By hapukafin
Me and my fishing mates dont mind the new size and number limit but strongly object to the size commercial fishers have and this applies to crays and scallops.How does the government expect recreational fishers to catch legal size fish when the commercial sector have a smaller size limit.We will be voting for the government who has the same size rule for everyone.
Fisheries Joke
Posted on 30-04-2014 14:05 | By captainbirdseye
I dont think most people realize that the fisheries minister is not there to look after the interests of the recreational angling sector, he is there as a go between for the government and the Commercial fishing sector. the TACQ qouta system does not work, just look at what happened in European waters where since the introduction of the quota management system which is based on pure guesswork, where most of the prevalant species have been wiped out! since the first qouta system was put in place for the Orange Roughy to supposidly protect and sustainably manage the species around 18/19 years ago, there are now 17 further species of fish including squid on the endangered list, all due to poor management and overfishing and the fact that unfortunately ' ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY' as usual and stuff everyone else. Vote for a party that cares about thefuture
Proper fisheries management
Posted on 30-04-2014 14:16 | By captainbirdseye
Until the absolutely stupid murderous practice of dumping undersize fish back into the ocean and bycatch dumping is stopped, Snapper stocks will never recover! If Commercial fisherman have say a quota to catch 100 tons of Snapper, they should be made to keep every fish irrespective of size to make the quota, its the only way forward for recovery of our once great fisheries. Anglers just want a fair share and dont mind reductions if it helps sustain the stocks. only way to increase stocks now is to increase Marine reserves ten fold everywhere, where fish can breed in peace which can only benefit anglers and the commercial sector long term. stop discards now before its too late and put someone in charge of fisheries who actually knows what he is doing!!! As long as its not 'Simon Bridges' or well all be buggered!
Poor Fisheries Management
Posted on 30-04-2014 15:18 | By Anbob
It's all about their business mates with this government; no value is placed on public rights. 90% reduction in the amateur bag limit since the QMS started! Bulk harvest methods (trawling, seining etc) dump up to 30% of their catch (both legally -undersized, and illegally- damaged, no quota, wrong size etc) and the methods are destructive. Should ban all bulk harvest methods in the Bay, it works in the Gulf (bulk methods are banned there) when you compare their SNA bio mass to the Bay's. How can you be fair and have the major contributor to the issue not penalised at all and have 25 cm size limit. The new regulations have destroyed surf casting, harbour fishing and wharf fishing. Some people rely on snapper for food not just fun! Fisheries Management's impartiality comes into question with the new law. It will definitely impact on Election Day results.
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