Meeting Notes: North Island-South West Regional Recreational Forum Thursday 22 February 2007

Open Meeting

Meeting chair, Paul Creswell (MFish) opened the meeting at 7.00 pm and welcomed members. Paul introduced Claire Norris from MFish (Nelson) to the forum.

Attendees

Paul Creswell (Chair, MFish)

Claire Norris (MFish)

Brent Rolston (Fielding Surfcasters Club)

Kevin Moratti (Taranaki Recreational Fishers Association)

Jim Mikoz (Wellington Recreational Marine Fishers Association)

Bob Rosemergy (Freediving New Zealand)

Apologies

Jo Cook (Wellington Surfcasting & Angling Club)

Jim O’Brien (NZ Angling & Casting Association)

Stephen Voullaire (Mana Cruising Club)

Meeting Introduction

Paul Creswell confirmed that the three main agenda items were: the first package of draft Fisheries Standards; a review of the NI-SW recreational forum; and the Shared-Fisheries Public Discussion Document.

Corresp.

Incoming Correspondence:

E-mail from the Greater Wellington Regional Council dated 19 February 2007 in response to the forum’s concerns about impacts of sand mining at Petone and Pencarrow Beaches.

Outgoing Correspondence:

• MFish December 2006 Update newsletter
• Minutes of the last meeting of the NI-SW Regional Recreational Forum held on 16 November 2006
• January 2007 Summary of the first package of draft Fisheries Standards

Email notifying today’s meeting and agenda

Regional updates

Members provided updates on the state of recreational fishing within their local areas.

Action: 1) Paul to capture information from these updates into a spreadsheet for future reference. This spreadsheet will be made available to members.

1st Package of Fisheries Standards

Claire Norris reminded members that MFish has released a consultation document on the following three draft Fisheries Standards.

• Harvest Strategy standard
• Consultation standard
• QMS Introduction standard

Claire provided a presentation on the draft Harvest Strategy and Consultation standards.

Members asked questions about how MFish will determine the level and quality of information that is available to manage fishstock harvest levels. In determining what is ‘good’ information, Paul Creswell referred to an earlier presentation where he explained the different types of available fisheries information ranging from anecdotal observations to formal stock assessment information, and the weight that is given to each information type. Claire noted there are a number of factors that would influence what ‘information category’ a fishstock would fit into, including: how much information is gathered on that fishstock, how often information is gathered, and how difficult it is to gather reliable information.

Bob Rosemergy questioned whether fishstocks placed under the ‘information-deficient’ and ‘information-limited’ categories should be given a chance to have more information gathered on them before being placed under these categories.

Several questions were asked about the draft rebuild strategy standards including acceptable probability levels (or risk) of achieving stock rebuild. Paul noted the draft standards would provide the Minister with more guidance as to an acceptable level of risk when setting the way and rate a stock is rebuilt.

Kevin Moratti expressed concern that the draft consultation standard differentiated between ‘tangata whenua’ and ‘stakeholders’.

Review of the NI-SW recreational forum

Paul Creswell noted the forum had been established since October 2005 and that it was now timely to review how well it is working.

Paul ran through the forum’s objectives and member’s roles and vision (as agreed by the forum at the first meeting). He asked members to provide feedback on whether these are being achieved (noting that three members were absent from the meeting), as well as what was being done well and what could be improved.

In general, members expressed very positive feedback on the forum. Members believed the forum provided a good mechanism for local recreational fishing representatives to discuss national and local fisheries issues and have they say. Members believed the forum is running very smoothly.

Members noted the following points:

• Members are happy to be identified within the minutes against main points of discussion, decisions or actions.
• Members are to receive all correspondence via e-mail.
• Members agreed to remain with Saturday meetings except during the summer when an evening meeting is preferred.
• Forum will continue to be held at the Kingsgate Hotel, Oriental Bay whenever possible.
• Members would like to invite Dr John Glaister and/or Stan Crothers to attend a forum meeting at some time in the future.
• Need to increase forum membership to include Kapiti and Wanganui regions.

Kevin Moratti remarked that he was initially skeptical about the forum, but is really pleased with how well it is running.

Paul provided a form to members to provide feedback on how the NI‑SW forum is doing, and encouraged members to fill this out (anonymously if they wish) and return to him in the envelope provided.

Action: 2) Paul will summarise the results of any post-meeting feedback at the next meeting.

Action: 3) Paul to invite the Kapiti Boating Club to join the forum

Action: 4) Kevin to invite the Wanganui Sport Fishing Club to join the forum

Update on the Shared Fisheries

Paul Creswell reminded the forum that the closing date for submissions on the Shared-Fisheries discussion paper is 28 February. He noted the next step is for MFish to prepare a Summary of Submissions to assist the Minister of Fisheries to form recommendations on the future management of shared‑fisheries.

Kevin Moratti, having been sent to the New Zealand Recreational Fishing Council Shared-Fisheries workshop as a representative of the NI-SW recreational forum, provided members with a brief summary of the workshop.

Kevin noted that the workshop was well attended. He stated the most important aspects of the Shared-Fisheries discussion paper include: improved information, setting of the TAC, priority allocation of the TAC, redress/compensation, representation of amateur interests, and local management.

Kevin believed it is important to change the Fisheries Act to explicitly state that the Minister shall allow for recreational interests when setting or varying any TAC. He raised concerns about the use of ‘value-based’ management to manage fisheries as this would only favour the fishing industry.

Kevin said he thought local management is a key issue facing local fisheries. He believed the increase in mätaitai reserves and marine reserves throughout the country will reduce the areas available for recreational fishing. Kevin stated he intends to invite Dr John Glaister, Stan Crothers (as well as the Mayor of New Plymouth) to a public debate about the loss of local management in Taranaki.

Brent Rolston thank Kevin for attending the workshop of the forum’s behalf.

Three of the four members present advised they or their fishing clubs had, or would be, putting in a submission on the Shared-Fisheries discussion document.

General business

Pukerua Bay

Jim Mikoz raised concerns about the recent reopening of Pukerua Bay to fishing. He noted that the bay has been closed to most fishing (except handheld line fishing) since 2002 on request by local iwi. He stated the Wellington Marine Fishers Association had contacted MFish to retain the closure to prevent overfishing of shellfish beds, particularly paua. He asked why MFish had allowed the area to be reopened.

Paul Creswell stated that Pukerua Bay was closed to fishing under a s 186A temporary closure and that the closure expires after four years. He informed the forum that Ngati Toa had recently applied to have the Pukerua Bay closure reinstated. MFish will place advertisements in local papers this weekend to advertise consultation for a new temporary closure. Consultation will close on 26 March 2007.

Jim also wanted to know whether there had been any shellfish surveys within the closed area prior to reopening. Paul said he was not aware of any surveys being undertaken.

Sand mining at Petone and Pencarrow Beaches

Paul Creswell tabled a recent e-mail from the Greater Wellington Regional Council in response to the forum’s letter sent in September 2006 about concerns on the effects of sand mining at Petone and Pencarrow Beaches. The response noted that these activities are being undertaken pursuant to several resource consents and include a number of monitoring requirements. Jim Mikoz stated he was unhappy with this response and believed that a consent has not been issued to allow dumping of material on Petone Beach. He requested the council to provide further evidence.

Jim also expressed concerns about an earlier response from the Hutt City Council about water quality in Waiwhetu Stream, He stated this response included a number of incorrect statements.

Action: 5) Paul will contact the Greater Wellington Regional Council to seek a copy of the resource consent that allows dumping of material at Petone Beach.

Telson Clipping

Paul Creswell provided an update on an initiative from the New Zealand Recreational Fishing Council (RFC) that would require non-commercial fishers to telson clip rock lobsters. He said the RFC has a number of issues to consider including how best to progress a proposal for consultation with stakeholders.

Tapuae Marine Reserve Application

Paul Creswell provided a brief update on the Tapuae marine reserve application. He noted that MFish has now provided the Minister of Fisheries with advice on the potential effects of the proposed reserve on fishing interests and activities. Recently, the Minister met with the Minister of Conservation and New Plymouth MP, Harry Duynhoven, to discuss the application and is now seeking additional information from MFish. This information was currently being prepared.

Proposed paua research along the Wellington south coast

Paul Creswell reminded members that the PAU 2 Industry Association has applied for a special permit to conduct a research programme within the Wellington south coast closed commercial paua area. He noted the research will provide some information on the state of paua populations within the closed area.

Paul advised the meeting held in mid-December was arranged after a request by the PAU 2 Industry Association to meet with local fishing representatives to discuss their proposal. Several forum members attended this meeting. Paul assured the forum’s views will be fed into the evaluation of the proposal.

Hectors’ Dolphins

Paul Creswell provided a brief update on the Minister’s recent decision to implement additional fishing controls in some areas of the South Island to give greater protection to Hectors dolphins. He noted that MFish had prepared a new pamphlet on the remind fishers to be careful when using set nets and to encourage the use of a set net code of practice to avoid catching dolphins, seals, seabirds, etc.

Brent Rolston noted the Fielding Surfcasting Club encourages their members to not use set nets when fishing.

Use of kontikis

Brent Rolston raised concerns about the increasing use of kontiki gear on local beaches. Brent is concerned this gear (particularly the use of power winches) poses a real danger to the general public as lines are very difficult to see (often chest high).

Kevin Moratti suggested that Brent raise his concerns directly with the Ministry of Transport with the view of developing a code of practice.

Action: 6) Brent will contact the Ministry of Transport regarding his concerns about the use of kontiki gear.

Next meeting

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

• Local set netting issues – discussion lead by Jim O’Brien
• Summary of feedback received on the review of the NI-SW Regional Recreational Forum
• Proposal for under sea current generators in Cook Strait – discussion lead by Jim Mikoz
• Charter boat fishing - discussion lead by Stephen Voullaire

Closing

Meeting closed at 10.30pm