Recreational Fishing Consultation Round Casts Off

21 July 2000

Recreational fishers and the community are being asked to think about the way recreational fishing is managed, in a public consultation launched at the NZ Recreational Fishing Conference in Nelson today.

"The problem is that recreational fishers' rights are not well defined, in law, and there is a risk that the quality of recreational fishing may decline if action is not taken," said Steve Penn and Stan Crothers, chairpersons of the Joint Working Party of the NZ Recreational Fishing Association and the Ministry of Fisheries, which is managing the consultation.

"Recreational fishers need a system which gives them a secure stake in the fishery and allows them to be involved in decisions affecting recreational fishing."

The Joint Working Party is asking the public what they think of three options for future management, or if they have other solutions for the future management of recreational fishing.

The three options are:

Option 1 - Discretionary share
This is pretty much staying with the present system, under which the recreational fishing share of the total allowable catch is set at the Minister of Fisheries' discretion. The Ministry of Fisheries would carry out operational management and enforcement.

Option 2 - Proportional share
This involves better defining recreational fishers' rights by establishing a set proportional share of the total allowable catch for recreational fishers. The Ministry of Fisheries would carry out management and enforcement.

Option 3 - Recreational management
This option would mean recreational rights would be better defined. Management groups, representing recreational fishers, would be established across the country and would recommend rules such as daily bag limits and so on. The government would have an oversight role focused on sustainability and Treaty of Waitangi obligations.

A discussion document, "Soundings", spells out the options in greater detail and is available from the Ministry of Fisheries. Public meetings and hui will be held in September around the country to explain the ideas and ask for feedback. For further information please contact

Steve Penn, (NZ Recreational Fishing Council) Tel 025 782 308
Stan Crothers, (Ministry of Fisheries) Tel 021 466 140