About

WHAT IS A RECRETIONAL FISHING FORUM?

A Recreational Fishing Forum is a group made up of fishing club or organisation representatives who meet with Ministry of Fisheries’ staff to discuss fisheries management issues. These forums have been set up by the Ministry of Fisheries to provide for formalised, regular engagement with the recreational sector.

BACKGROUND

In 2005, the then Minister of Fisheries indicated he would like to see a number of regional forums established to work with MFish. Consequently, seven forums were established and operated at regional levels across the country. In 2009 the Ministry reorganised. As a result of this reorganisation, the Ministry changed its approach to fisheries planning and its approaches to engagement with tangata whenua and stakeholders.

Regional recreational fisheries forums were reorganised to better align with the new organisational structure, resources and approaches to fisheries planning. The biggest difference between the ‘old’ and ‘new’ forums is that forums are now aligned to Fisheries Management Areas – the administrative areas the Ministry uses to divide New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone. Most fisheries management decisions are made at this scale so it makes sense to have forums meet and discuss issues at this level.

WHAT DO RECREATIONAL FISHING FORUMS DO?

Recreational Forums meet with Ministry staff three times a year to discuss fisheries management issues. These meetings aim to obtain recreational sector input into fisheries management decision making and develop the capacity of both Ministry staff and recreational forum members to assist effective management of recreational fisheries.

While forums can provide the Ministry with the perspective of the recreational fishing sector, forum engagements do not act as a substitute for statutory consultation. This means that even when forums have discussed issues with the Ministry, the general public still has the opportunity to comment on important decisions that affect recreational fisheries.

You can find our Terms of Reference below.

 Download terms of reference (PDF 87KB)

HOW ARE RECREATIONAL FISHING FORUMS ORGANISED?

There are six recreational fishing forums covering the Fisheries Management Areas shown on the map. FMA 3 and 5 have a combined forum.

These forums are aligned to Fisheries Management Areas – the administrative areas the Ministry uses to divide New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone.

There are 8-10 members on each forum.

WHO IS ON A RECREATIONAL FISHING FORUM?

Recreational Fishing Forums are made up of 8-10 individuals connected to recreational fishing-related clubs or organisations from across an FMA. The majority of these individuals voluntarily give up their time to be involved in the forums.

Most of the current members have been involved in past recreational forums and were appointed to the forum by the Ministry of Fisheries. The Ministry sought to appoint members with the ability to bring a wide perspective of recreational fisheries to the table through their mandate to speak on behalf of a club or recreational fishing organisation as well as expertise in recreational fishing and/or fisheries management.

Members have knowledge from an array of recreational fishing branches, from spear-fishing to charter-boat operating, researching to set netting. Together, forum members hold a vast amount of experience and knowledge which they use to discuss and advise the Ministry on significant issues to the recreational sector.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information on recreational forums, or to find out how you can become involved, please contact us at info@fish.govt.nz