MFish To Open New Marlborough / Kaikoura Office

15 May 2003

The Ministry of Fisheries (MFish) has responded to Marlborough and Kaikoura community concerns about illegal fishing by establishing a new office in the region. National Compliance Manager Dave Wood says MFish has sought and been given sufficient funds to open an office in the region.

"The Ministry of Fisheries has heard and taken note of community concerns about the high levels of recreational fishing and an apparent increasing level of poaching in the region, and the desire to have Fishery Officers based in the area," Mr Wood said.

"We believe this move will address our own assessment of the compliance risks in the area, will support co-operative fisheries management plans and will enable us to provide a real boost to the support we can give our (voluntary) Honorary Fishery Officers (HFOs).

"Establishing an MFish office will give local people a much greater level of certainty about maintaining sustainable fisheries resources in their area. We hope to work closely with the community and, along with fisheries management measures, help rebuild and maintain their fisheries resources."

Mr Wood said over the next 18 months staff numbers at the new office would grow to four Fisheries Officers. Combining HFOs' local knowledge and full time Fishery Officers' expertise should prove to be a strong deterrent to poachers.

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