Meeting Notes: North Island-South West Regional Recreational Forum Thursday 16 November 2006

Open Meeting

Meeting chair, Paul Creswell (MFish) opened the meeting at 7.15 pm and welcomed members.

Attendees

Paul Creswell (Chair)

Jim O’Brien (NZ Angling & Casting Association)

Brent Rolston (Feilding Surfcasters Club)

Kevin Moratti (Taranaki Recreational Fishers Association)

Jim Mikoz (Wellington Recreational Marine Fishers Association)

Bob Rosemergy (Freediving New Zealand)

Mark Edwards (MFish)

Edwin Massey (MFish)

Apologies

Jo Cook (Wellington Surfcasting & Angling Club)

Meeting Introduction

Paul stated the main focus of the meeting was the Shared-Fisheries Public Discussion Document. The forum had agreed to dedicate today’s to the Shared-Fisheries project to enable members to meet with representatives from the project team to discuss the proposals and answer any questions.

Corresp.

Incoming Correspondence:

• E-mail from Bruce Sherlock, Hutt City Council, in response to the forum’s concerns about water quality in Waiwhetu Stream and sand mining on Pencarrow and Petone Beaches. E-mail included a letter from MWH providing additional information.
• E-mails from members nominating Kevin Moratti to attend the upcoming New Zealand Recreational Fishing Council Shared-Fisheries workshop on the forum’s behalf.

Outgoing Correspondence:

• Letter (dated 28 August 2006) to the Hutt City Council expressing the forum’s concerns about water quality in Waiwhetu Stream and sand mining on Pencarrow and Petone Beaches
• Letter (dated 29 September 2006) to the Greater Wellington Regional Council expressing the forum’s concerns about sand mining on Pencarrow and Petone Beaches
• MFish October 2006 Update Newsletter
• Minutes of the last forum meeting including a copy of The Bite
• E-mail seeking nominations to select a forum representative at the upcoming New Zealand Recreational Fishing Council Shared-Fisheries workshop
• Letter notifying today’s meeting and agenda – including a copy of the Shared-Fisheries Public Discussion Document

Minutes of last meeting

Paul briefly summarised the minutes of the last forum meeting held on 5 August 2006.

Jim Mikoz stated he disagreed with the Hutt City Council’s response about the state of water quality in Waiwhetu Stream. He said he had conflicting information that was contrary to the council’s position on the quality of water within the stream. Rather, he believed the stream is polluted (“full of suds”). A copy of the council’s letter was given to all members

The forum agreed to defer discussing actions items outlined in the minutes over to the next meeting to provide sufficient time to discuss the Shared-Fisheries document.

Regional updates

Members provided written updates on recreational fishing in their local areas.

Regional Issues

Recreational regulations review decisions

Paul outlined the Minister of Fisheries’ recent decisions on the review of several recreational fishing proposals. These proposals were raised by the New Zealand Recreational Fishing Council. Paul noted the forum discussed each proposal at the last meeting and their position on the various proposals were included as part of MFish’s final advice to the Minister. He noted the Minister’s decisions were consistent with the forum’s views.

Paul highlighted that decisions will not become effective until at least April 2007.

Paul summarised the Minister’s decisions as follows:

Change to recreational scallop season

Minister has agreed to amend the timing of the recreational scallop fishery between North Cape and Cape Runaway between 1 Sept and 31 March. All other scallop remain unchanged.

Size limits for red gurnard, blue cod, and trumpeter

Minister has agreed to set a national 25 cm MLS for red gurnard and 35 cm MLS from trumpeter.

Minister has agreed to reduce the MLS from 33 cm to 30 cm for the northern North Island blue cod (BCO 1) fishery. All other blue cod fisheries remain unchanged.

Jim Mikoz stated the lower blue cod size limit should also apply to the local fishery (BCO 2).

Amendment to regulation 19A of the amateur fishing regulations

Minister has agreed to correct the offences regime that applies under r 19A.

Recreational issues related to taking bag limits

Minister has confirmed that undersize fish will not count towards the amateur daily bag limit if released immediately.

Minister has agreed that fish at, or above, the MLS do not count against the amateur daily bag limit if the fish are released to the sea immediately and are likely to survive. This will also allow fishers to release fish caught for research purposes (ie, tag and release programmes) without being counted against the daily bag limit.

Shared-Fisheries Public Discussion Document

Mark Edwards provided a brief introduction of the Shared-Fisheries project. He outlined some of the main issues facing the management of shared fisheries including current limitations to improve recreational access and catch rates in important fish and shellfish fisheries.

Mark noted that the Minister of Fisheries had recently released a public discussion document to consider how best to manage shared fisheries amongst the customary, recreational, and commercial sectors. This document provides a real opportunity for all stakeholders to have a big say in how shared fisheries are to be managed in the future.

He encouraged members to discuss the document with their representative clubs after the meeting and to provide MFish with a submission. The deadline for submissions is 28 February 2007.

Edwin Massey provided a presentation on each of the document’s seven themes. These were:

• Getting better information on catch and value
• Setting the TAC
• Priorities for allocating the TAC
• Setting and adjusting amateur and commercial allocations
• Local area management
• Redress following adjustments in allocations or access
• Representing amateur fishers’ interests

Members discussed at length the various proposals under each of the above themes.

The forum discussed the concept of using ‘value’ as a basis to allocate the TAC amongst commercial, customary and recreational sectors. The forum asked to receive a copy of a ‘contingency value’ study where this approach was explored about 5 years ago.

Action: 1) Paul to provide members with a copy of the ‘contingency value’ study.

Members asked Kevin to provide them with a summary of the outcomes from the upcoming New Zealand Recreational Fishing Council Shared-Fisheries workshop. Kevin stated that he would provide members with an update after the workshop. Mark noted the Recreational Fishing Council is to provide MFish with a report on the workshop and this will be posted on the Shared‑Fisheries website at www.fish.govt.nz.

Action: 2) Kevin to provide members with a summary after the New Zealand Recreational Fishing Council Shared-Fisheries workshop.

Members raised concerns about the lack of public meetings to discuss the Shared-Fisheries Public Discussion Document. Paul stated that he will explore the possibility of holding a Taranaki Fisheries Liaison Committee meeting to discuss the public discussion document.

Note: A meeting of the Taranaki Fisheries Liaison Committee will be held on Tuesday 12 December 2006 in New Plymouth to discuss the Shared‑Fisheries Project.

Jim Mikoz asked MFish to send him an e-mail that provides details of all public meetings. He will forward these details to recreational fishers listed on his extensive recreational contact database.

Action: 3) Edwin to e-mail Jim with details of public meetings.

Note: E-mail was sent to Jim the following day.

General business

Tapuae Marine Reserve Application

Kevin stated that the people of Taranaki were disappointed that MFish has not consulted with them over the Tapuae marine reserve application. He requested that MFish urgently undertake proper consultation with the local recreational sector. He highlighted that MFish does not have sufficient information to assess the implications of the proposed reserve on local recreational fishers, and believes the reserve will have a serious undue effect on recreational fishing. Members supported Kevin’s request for MFish to consult with local fishers.

Motion:

The forum passed the following motion (tabled by Kevin)

The NI-SW Recreational Forum strongly request MFish to undertake direct consultation with all affected parties as part of the concurrence process in respect to the Tapuae reserve application. This is on the complete application and not just the boundary changes.

(moved Kevin/seconded Brent - motion passed unanimously)

Paul stated that he will advise the Spatial Allocation Team of the forum’s concerns.

Standards consultation

Paul advised the forum that MFish had recently released a consultation document proposing three draft fisheries standards on the following:

• Harvest strategy – a standard will establish appropriate harvest strategies for all QMS stocks and include target, threshold and reference points
• Consultation - a standard will set out minimum requirements when consulting with fisheries stakeholders.
• QMS introductions – a standard will set out a process to prioritise introducing non-QMS stocks into the QMS.

A copy of the consultation document is available from www.fish.govt.nz.

The forum agreed to invite a MFish representative to give a presentation on the draft Harvest Strategy Standard.

Action: 4) Paul to arrange a MFish representative to present the draft Harvest Strategy Standard

Proposed paua research along the Wellington south coast

Paul stated the MFish had received a special permit application from the local commercial paua sector (PAUAMAC 2) to undertake research within the commercial closed area along the Wellington south coast. The purpose of the research is to assess paua numbers within the closed area and to compare catches rates with the open harvest areas on the Wairarapa. The application stated that the recreational sector has already been consulted through Max Hetherington, and that they supported the research.

Bob Rosemergy advised that he has recently contacted several local diving clubs and none were aware of the application. He noted that these clubs would not support the proposed research.

Wellington Marine Fishers Association representative on forum

Paul asked members whether there was a need to reinvite the Wellington Marine Fishers Association to the forum given the recent passing of Max Hetherington. Jim Mikoz stated that he is the secretary on the association, and as such, already represents this association on the forum.

The forum agreed there was no need to seek a replacement for Max on this forum.

Paul advised that Steve Voullaire from the Mana Boating Club had resigned from the forum due to difficulties in attending Saturday meeting. Members agreed that MFish should invite the Mana Boating Club to nominate another representative to join the forum. Members also suggested inviting the Kapiti Boating Club to participate on the forum.

Action: 5) Paul to invite the Mana Boating Club and Kapiti Boating Club to join the forum

Local set netting issues

Jim O’Brien agreed to provide a short presentation outlining his set netting concerns at the next forum meeting.

Next meeting

The following agenda items are to be carried to the next forum meeting:

• Shared-Fisheries project – update
• Draft harvest strategy standard – MFish presentation
• Local set netting issues - presentation by Jim O’Brien
• Review of the NI-SW Regional Recreational Forum
• Pukerua Bay s186A closure
• Rock lobster telson clipping initiative - update

Closing

Meeting closed at 10.05pm