Meeting Notes: North Island-South West Regional Recreational Forum Saturday 15 November 2008
Open Meeting
Meeting chair, Paul Creswell opened the meeting at 10am and welcomed members.
Paul welcomed Billy Brough to the forum. Billy Brough is a senior fisheries analyst with MFish’s Napier Inshore Team and had replaced Andy Warmbrunn in assisting with this forum.
Paul also welcomed George Zander (Ngawi Fishing Club) to the forum. George is a member of the North Island-South East Forum and is attending the meeting to discuss an East Coast rock lobster initiative.
Attendees
Paul Creswell (Chair, MFish)
Jim O’Brien (NZ Angling & Casting Association)
Billy Brough (MFish)
Terry Liggett (Wanganui-Manawatu Sea Fishing Club)
Jim Mikoz (Wellington Recreational Marine Fishers Association)
Kevin Moratti (Taranaki Recreational Fishers Association)
Brent Rolston (Feilding Surfcasters Club)
Bob Rosemergy (Freediving New Zealand)
Dave Thorpe (Mana Cruising Club)
George Zander (Ngawi Fishing Club)
Apologies
Ross Thurston (MFish)
Meeting Introduction
Paul confirmed the meeting agenda with members. The main agenda items were the upcoming meeting of the national fishing forums, local depletion concerns within the Wanganui blue cod fishery, and management of the forum.
Other agenda items included the regional fisheries updates, MFish update, the North West Finfish Fisheries Plan, and an overview of the commercial catch balancing framework (if time permitted). Jim Mikoz raised a concern about some commercial fishers exceeding maximum soak times. The forum agreed this concern should be raised directly with fisheries compliance at the next forum meeting.
Paul thanked members for their comments on the minutes of the last forum meeting held on 2 August 2008. These minutes were now available on the MFish website at:
http://www.fish.govt.nz/en-nz/Recreational/Recreational+Forums/Lower+North+Island/NI+SW/Meeting+6+-+1+Aug+2008.htm
Action: 1) Jim Mikoz to raise his concerns about commercial set net soak times at the next forum meeting.
Regional Updates
Members provided regional updates on recreational fishing over the past three months within their local areas.
There was a general view that recreational fishing had been very poor because of inclement weather and sea conditions. Fishing had now begun to improve with fishers experiencing good catches of snapper, John dory, red cod, and rock lobster. Some very good fishing was now happening within Wellington Habour with fishers catching red gurnard, red cod and scallops. Kevin Moratti and Terry Liggett noted that snapper and rock lobster were plentiful in Taranaki and Wanganui. Terry said there had been recent instances of fishers exceeding the daily bag limit for blue cod, as well as landing undersize fish within the Wanganui area. He noted more compliance effort was needed, particularly at the Wanganui boat ramp.
Paul relayed Ross Thurston’s comments that poaching of paua along the Wellington coast had declined in recent months as a direct result of Operation PAID. He noted that members can always contact Ross directly if they have any questions or concerns about fisheries compliance within their regions.
Terry noted that compliance information boards within the Wanganui region still needs updating with the new MLS for red gurnard. Paul said he will bring this issue to fisheries compliance’s attention.
Paul noted that he had contacted the Plimmerton Boating Club about joining the forum. He said the club had yet to decide whether it wished to become involved with this forum at this time. Paul said he would follow up this matter before the next forum meeting.
Action: 2) Paul to inform fisheries compliance about compliance issues within the Wanganui region.
MFish update
Paul provided the forum with a brief update on several recent MFish management initiatives. These included:
He encouraged members to ensure their respective clubs/organisations are fully informed of this new closure over the upcoming summer period. Kevin noted that it was fundamentally wrong to restrict the closure to recreational fishers only, and not to all fishers (ie, commercial and customary) that catch blue cod within the closed area.
Paul provided the forum with a new fisheries pamphlet on the new measures. Jim Mikoz said that MFish should ensure that all fishing pamphlets are coloured in a way that can be read by people who are colour blind.
- October 2008 review of sustainability measures, including recent bluenose TACC amendments.
- Current consultation round of proposed regulatory measures for the April 2009 fishing year, including proposed charter boat reporting measures.
- New code of practice for recreational diving for scallops and oysters – Bob said that he wished for the minutes to record that MFish’s consultation on the proposed code had been “first-rate”. He said that MFish had made sufficient information available for them to provide comment and had responded to their concerns. As a result, the code now provides workable arrangements that take into account diver safety.
- Amendment to s 13 of the Fisheries Act 1996 – Paul said that he would provide more information on the meaning of this amendment during the meeting if time permits.
George Zander informed the forum that the CRA 4 fishery (that extends between Mahia Peninsula and Wanganui) is in a very poor state. As a result, east coast recreational fishers within the CRA 4 fishery have agreed to voluntary reduce their daily bag limit from 6 to 4 rock lobster per person as a way to assist the fishery recover. All clubs associated with the New Zealand Big Game Fishing Council in the south-east region have agreed to adopt this measure. He said the voluntary bag limit reduction was made alongside a decision by local commercial fishers to shelve 60% of the TACC this year. In addition, kaitiaki in the area have also agreed to reduce customary catch.
He said the lower daily bag limit was developed through the North Island South East recreational forum and provided a good example of what these forums are able to achieve. He said that it was up to individual clubs along the south-west region to adopt the lower bag limit but acknowledged that overfishing concerns may not be a problem within this region. Jim Mikoz said the Wellington Marine Fishers Association had not been consulted about this measure despite a recent newspaper article stating that Wellington fishing clubs supported the lower bag limit.
The forum agreed that Jim Mikoz, Terry and Brent Rolston would work with George to get more information to enable them to discuss this issue with their respective clubs/organisation.
Action: 3) Jim Mikoz, Terry and Brent to work with George to obtain information on the new voluntary bag limit for rock lobster.
Management of the forum
Members discussed the reporting of forum discussions in the public arena. This issue was raised in response to a recent NZ Fishing Coast to Coast article by Jim Mikoz (Being Stitched Up) about the recent proposal to review the häpuku/bass daily bag limit and the views expressed by forum members on this proposal. Members were concerned that the article did not accurately reflect the positions of individual members on this proposal. Jim Mikoz and Kevin said that everyone had the right to express their views within the public arena. Others noted that members cannot speak for the whole of the forum without full agreement by all.
Most members agreed that a ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ should apply that individual members do not report the forum’s view within the media without first obtaining approval from all members. This agreement would not prevent members from expressing their personal views.
The forum agreed that more time should be given during and after meetings for members to “chew the fat” and discuss issues of importance to them. Members also said they want some meetings to be held out of Wellington to enable them to host members and to experience other fisheries. Members also wanted more regular meetings and for meeting dates to be set out well in advance.
Brent tabled a letter from the Feilding Surfcasting Club to the New Zealand Angling and Casting Association Inc. that clarified its position on future recreational bag limit reductions. The club supported decreasing the amateur daily bag limit from a maximum of 20 to 10 fish per person of any species (not withstanding lower limits that current apply for some species). The club considers this bag limit would enable individual fishers to catch a ‘feed for the family’ while addressing issues of increased fishing pressure/habitat destruction/spatial displacement within shared fisheries. Brent said he would discuss this letter at next week’s national meeting of recreational fishing forums. One idea was raised at the forum to set the amateur bag limit at 30 fish per person with a maximum of 10 fish of any particular species.
Action: 4) Members agree to a gentlemen’s agreement to circulate all articles/reports that state the views and opinions of the forum before released into the pubic arena. This agreement does not apply where individual views and opinions are expressed.
Action: 5) Future meetings to provide more time for members to discuss their issues, as well as some meetings being held outside of Wellington.
National meeting of the recreational fishing forums
Kevin led a group discussion on various recreational fisheries issues in advance of next week’s national meeting of recreational fishing forums. This meeting will be held in Auckland and the forum would be represented by him and Brent. He wished the canvas the views/opinions of the forum to present at the national meeting. Main points raised are summarised below.
Regional forums
- Greater clarification of role of forum members is required.
- Greater linkage between different forums – particularly with the North Island-South East forum.
- Forum has improved the relationship between MFish and local recreational fishing sector – fishers are better informed and the forum provides a mechanism for fishers to raise and discuss national and regional issues of importance.
- MFish needs to listen more to fishers’ concerns.
- Forum discussions need to be more balanced to include local issues.
Consultation
- Forum generally happy with MFish consultation process.
- Brent and Kevin said they are happy to assist members with drafting submissions if required.
Local management
- Existing fisheries management areas (ie, QMAs, FMAs) are too large – unanimous support for smaller management areas to provide greater ability for local recreational sector to be involved in fisheries management. Smaller management areas would promote more pride amongst local fishers to manage their fisheries.
- Need smaller QMAs to address local management issues eg, BCO 8, SNA 8.
- Need to provide greater protection to important fish spawning areas.
- MFish needs to have a greater involvement with regional councils.
Fisheries regulations
- Need to recognise the ‘recreational fishing right’ in law.
- Need to consider licencing to provide ability for recreational sector to have a greater role in fisheries management.
- The forum supported discussions of the following regulatory proposals at the national meeting:
- Mandatory net attendance of all recreational set nets
- Creation of no set netting zones in areas of high recreational line fishing and nursery areas.
The forum discussed a letter from the Top of the South Recreational Forum on the formation of an Amateur Fishing Trust to promote participation of the recreational sector in fisheries management.
Kevin said the recent change in government now provides a good time to promote establishing an Amateur Fishing Trust to improve funding and representation of the recreational sector. Jim O’Brien suggested that members should ring up their local MP and ask them to support this initiative. Members agreed that funding of the recreational sector must occur as this is a major issue preventing recreational fishers getting involved in fisheries management.
The forum supported establishing an Amateur Fishing Trust. This trust must include an independent chief executive (voted in by the recreational sector) and have paid full-time staff to represent their interests.
Kevin and Brent thanked members for their views and said they would convey these at the national meeting.
Action: 6) Kevin and Brent to report back to forum at next meeting on national meeting.
Action: 7) Next meeting to discuss and confirm role of forum participants.
Action: 8) Forum agenda to include non-specific item to provide time for members to discuss matters of importance to them.
Wanganui blue cod local depletion issue
Terry said there are concerns about the state of local blue cod populations within the Wanganui/Patea region. He said that local fishers are reporting that blue cod is now harder to catch and that the size of fish is decreasing. He suggested the fishery is under stress as a result of concentrated commercial cod potting and recreational fishing effort, and lack of compliance with the regulations. Both members believed it was a timely for both the TACC and recreational bag limit be reviewed to ensure local populations are sustainable.
Paul presented a brief overview of the fishery. This overview included recent commercial catch levels in relation to the TACC of 74 t, by fisheries statistical area, as well as recreational harvest estimates.
The forum noted its support for MFish to review the TACC to align it with recent catch levels. The forum noted that it did not support a formal review of the 20 fish daily bag limit, but would consider a possible voluntary reduction in areas of most concern. Jim Mikoz said that local seismic activity could be having an impact on local fish stocks.
Both Brent and Terry believed there was merit in discussing their concerns with local iwi to assess whether customary fishers were experiencing similar problems and to gauge a level of support for combined action across both sectors. Paul and Brent said they would discuss this matter with iwi at the next North West Finfish Fisheries Plan, with a view of organising a meeting with relevant iwi in the near future.
Action: 9) MFish and Brent to look at options to discuss the blue cod issue with local iwi.
North West Finfish Fisheries Plan
Brent and Paul briefly informed the forum about the progress of the draft fisheries plan for major finfish fisheries along the West Coast, North Island. The Fisheries Plan Advisory Group has developed four ‘high-level’ goals for these fisheries and is now developing a series of draft objectives of achieve these goals. The forum would be kept informed on the progress of this plan at future meetings. 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
General Business
The forum agreed there was insufficient time for MFish to present an overview of the commercial catch balancing framework and what the amendment to s 13 means. It was agreed to discuss these items at the next meeting.
No items were raised under General Business
Action 10) MFish to present commercial catch balancing framework and s 13 amendment at next meeting.
Next Meeting
The forum agreed to hold the next meeting in late February/early March.
The following agenda items were to be carried to the next forum meeting:
- Forum reps to report back on the National Meeting of the Regional Recreational Forums
- Commercial set net soak time issue
- Overview of taiapure/mätaitai tools
- Overview of commercial catch balancing regime
- Overview of amendment to s 13 of the Fisheries Act
Closing
Meeting closed at 3pm