Meeting Notes: North Island-South West Regional Recreational Forum Saturday 2 August 2008 

Meeting chair, Paul Creswell opened the meeting at 10am and welcomed members.

Paul welcomed Steve Hornby (who was standing in for Kevin Moratti ) and Jeff Barnes (who was attending the meeting as an observer) to the forum.

Paul also welcomed Dr Pete r Todd (MFish Science) and Andrew Sealey (MFish Compliance) to the forum.

Paul Creswell (Chair, MFish)
Jeff Barnes (Mana Cruising Club)
Steve Hornby ( Tara naki Recreational Fishers Association)
Jim Mikoz ( Wellington Recreational Marine Fishers Association)
Jim O'Brien (NZ Angling & Casting Association)
Brent Rolston (Fielding Surfcasters Club)
Bob Rosemergy (Freediving New Zealand )
Andrew Sealey (MFish)
Dave Thorpe (Mana Cruising Club)
Peter Todd (MFish)
Andy Warmbrunn (MFish)

Terry Liggett ( Wanganui-Manawatu Sea Fishing Club)
Kevin Moratti (Taranaki Recreational Fishers Association)

Paul confirmed the meeting agenda with members. The main agenda items were recreational fishing research and recent decisions on the Hector's/ Maui 's dolphin threat management plan and review of the häpuku/bass 2 and Marlborough Sounds blue cod fisheries.

Other agenda items included the regional fisheries updates and the North-West Finfish Fisheries Plan. Members raised several other items and these would be discussed under General Business if time allowed.

Paul stated that a report back from last year's national meeting of regional recreational fisheries forums would again be delayed until the next forum meeting when Jim O'Brien and Kevin Moratti were both present to lead discussions.

Paul advised the minutes of the last forum meeting held on 2 April 2008 had been posted on the MFish website at:

http://www.fish.govt.nz/en-nz/Recreational/Recreational+Forums/Lower+North+Island/NI+SW/Meeting+5+-+2+April+2008.htm

Action: 1) Jim and Kevin to provide an update on last year's national meeting of regional recreational fisheries forums at next meeting.

Members provided regional updates on the state of recreational fishing within their local areas. There was a general feeling that recreational fishing had been very poor over the autumn and winter months in response to poor weather and sea conditions. Fishing had recently begun to improve with good numbers of snapper, rock lobster and tara kihi now appearing. Steve and Dave both noted that good numbers of marlin had been caught off Taranaki last summer, as well as the appearance of the tropical mahi mahi. Jim Mikoz raised concerns about the danger posed by commercial shipping traffic to recreational boats within Cook Strait (and in particular to boats fishing further offshore because of the new Wellington marine reserve), and mentioned one recent incident involving the InterIslander.

Andrew Sealey provided a local compliance update. He gave a brief overview of Operation PAID that focused on paua poaching within the North Island . He said the operation was very successful and this should have an impact on paua poaching within the Wellington region. However despite this success Wellington compliance are fully aware that there are bound to be other organised groups in the region which will need to be tackled. He noted that local recreational compliance was generally very good and reminded members of the 0800 4 Poacher (0800 4 76224 ) number to report any activities of illegal fishing. Andrew said that he co-ordinates the local HFO network, and that members can contact him if they want more information about this network.

Paul gave the forum a list of forum members. This list included member's contact details. Members agreed there was no need to seek another member from the Wellington Surfcasting and Angling Club to join the forum (in response to Jo Cook's resignation late last year), as both Jim Mikoz and Jim O'Brien were members of this club.

The forum suggested that the current representation provided a good coverage along the lower North Island West Coast. However, coverage within the Kapiti area would be improved by inviting the Plimmerton Boating Club to join the forum.

Action: 2) MFish to contact the Plimmerton Boating Club

Pete r Todd provided the forum with an overview of MFish's research programme for recreational fishing. This overview outlined the stock assessment working group and research planning processes, and identified some of the problems in obtaining good robust information on recreational harvest estimates and fishing activities.

He noted the three main information needs for recreational research were:

• A continuing time-series of harvest estimates
• Regional fishing surveys/characterisations
• Demographics of fishing populations

Peter highlighted that annual recreational harvest estimates for the main stocks were available and were mainly derived from the national telephone and diary surveys. However, he stressed that these had to be treated with considerable caution because of a wide range in estimates between the different surveys. He gave examples of recreational harvest estimates for several fishstocks.

The forum highlighted the lack of funding for the recreational sector to attend the various research working group meetings. Members also discussed the use of catch information routinely collected by fishing clubs, particularly during club days and competitions. Several members believed that MFish should consider this ‘anecdotal' information when making management decisions.

Peter discussed the future direction of recreational research and noted that obtaining fishstock harvest estimates remained a priority; although the use of aerial surveys was becoming increasingly important for some fishstocks in more populated areas.

Peter provided recreational fishing information for the SNA 8 fishery and noted that this will be reported in the upcoming research report. Paul said he would send the report to members once available.

Paul informed the forum about MFish's research planning process and the opportunity for members to suggest ideas for possible future research. The timeline of this year's process including the dates of the various stock assessment working groups was given to members.

Although several members made suggestions where more information would be beneficial, it was difficult to identify particular research ideas during the meeting. Paul said that he would be preparing a research proposal to characterise recreational fisheries between Taranaki and Wellington (FMA 8) and that he would promote this proposal at the upcoming Recreational Fisheries Working Group. The forum noted its support for this proposal.

Paul provided the forum with a brief overview of the Minister's recent decisions on various fisheries proposals. These decisions included:

• New amateur and commercial fishing restrictions to provide greater protection to Hector's/ Maui 's dolphins from the effects of fishing
  • Paul noted that these restrictions applied to the South Island, and upper west Coast North Island only (north of Taranaki).
• A ban on the recreational harvest of blue cod within the enclosed Marlborough Sounds over the next four years to assist the rebuilding of localised blue cod populations.
  • Paul noted that the Minister also agreed to require recreational fishers to land whole or gutted blue cod when taken from the wider Marlborough Sounds Area. This measure will assist fisheries officers to ensure good compliance with the new no-take measure.
  • Paul noted that fishers can still continue to catch all other finfish species within the enclosed Marlborough Sounds.

Paul noted that the above measures come into force from 1 October 2008 onwards. He encouraged members to ensure their clubs/organisations were fully informed of these measures to ensure compliance.

Andy noted that the Minister decided to retain the amateur daily bag limit for the local häpuku/bass (HPB 2) fishery (ie, proposal was to reduce the limit from 5 to 3 fish per person and possibly introduce boat and accumulation limits).

He noted that in submissions on the IPP there was no widespread agreement about localised depletion of HPB in the Central Fisheries Management Area. As was clearly stated in the IPP, if such agreement was not achieved the proposal would not go ahead and the status quo would be maintained. Andy added that the proposal had come from MFish listening to concerns of the recreational sector and that, although the changes did not go ahead, it was an example of MFish taking local recreational concerns seriously and acting upon them.

Members expressed missed views about the Minister's decision to retain the existing bag limit for häpuku/bass. Some members said the Minister should have taken a cautious approach.

Paul provided members with a copy of the Minister's decision letter that provides more details, including rationale for each decision. He also noted that members could obtain the Initial Position Paper and Final Advice Paper associated with each proposal from MFish's website at http://www.fish.govt.nz/.

Paul also informed the forum on several proposals that were either currently out for consultation or would be shortly released for consultation. These included:

• Draft code of practice for recreational divers when taking scallops and oysters.
  • Bob highlighted that Freediving NZ had a number of concerns about the code, particularly the suggestion that divers had to measure scallops/oysters on the seabed in order to comply with the existing rules. Paul said that he had forward Bob's submission within MFish to ensure they are informed of these concerns.
• Maori Commercial Aquaculture Settlement and Draft Treaty strategy for input and participation
  • Paul noted that submissions close 31 October 2008
• Review of bluenose stocks
  • Paul noted that submissions close 11 August 2008
• Upcoming consultation of a review of freshwater species codes and minimum mesh size, regulations concerning fishing pots, and amateur charter boat reporting
  • Paul noted that information on these proposals would be made available shortly. Members should visit MFish's website for more information.

North Island West Coast Finfish Fisheries Plan

Paul and Brent provided a brief overview on the development of a fisheries plan for the inshore finfish fisheries along the West Coast North Island . Both Brent and Kevin were representing the forum on the Fisheries Pl an Advisory Group, which was responsible for developing the plan.

The plan covers the main inshore finfish stocks on the west coast of the North Island from North Cape to Porirua Harbour , including snapper, tarakihi, red gurnard, trevally and kahawai. The stocks support valuable commercial, recreational and customary fisheries. These range from small-scale harbour fisheries using set-nets to large trawling operations on the coast.

Paul provided members with a handout with information on the overall intent of the plan, what fishstocks are included, list of participants involved in developing the plan, and process.

Brent said the plan was developing well and were now beginning to look at developing high-level objectives for the long-term management of these fisheries.

Paul highlighted that the Information Brief was just about completed and provided an excellent resource on what information is known about these fisheries, including a description of commercial, customary and recreational fisheries.

Paul said that all information on the development of the plan (including minutes of each monthly meeting) was available for the MFish website at:

http://fpcs.fish.govt.nz/FishPlanComplex.aspx?ID=14

Brent said that the fisheries plan initiative provided a unique opportunity for all fisheries sectors to sit around the same table to discuss their concerns and look at ways to better manage the West Coast North Island finfish fisheries.

A further update would be given on the progress of the plan at the next forum meeting.

BCO 8 issues

Brent informed the forum that several fishers within the Wanganui/Patea region had expressed concerns about the impacts of commercial fishing on localised blue cod populations. The forum agreed that there was insufficient time to consider this issue today and would discussed this issue at the next forum meeting.

National Recreational Fishing Forum meeting

Several members reminded the forum that an update had yet to be provided on last year's national meeting of recreational fishing forums. The forum agreed to have this update at the next meeting when both Jim O'Brien and Kevin were present.

Taiapure/maitaitai

The forum asked for more information about taiapure/mätaitai and the implications of these measures on the recreational sector.

Paul said that he would invite someone from MFish along to the next meeting to discuss taiapure/maitaitai.

Commercial catch balancing regime

The forum agreed to defer this item to the next meeting.

No other items were raised.

Action 4) Next meeting to discuss blue cod 8 issue, National Recreational Fishing Forum meeting, taiapure/mätaitai, and commercial catch balancing arrangements

The forum agreed to hold the next meeting on a Saturday in late October/early November.

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

• Blue cod 8 issue
• Forum reps to report back on the National Meeting of the Regional Recreational Forums
• Taiapure/maitaitai
• Overview of commercial catch balancing regime