SOUTH RECREATIONAL FISHERS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING - 31 MAY 2008

HELD AT THE MINISTRY OF FISHERIES OFFICE, 45 FILLEUL STREET, DUNEDIN

Present

Jonathan Peacey (MFish)
Tony Brett (MFish)
Sharon Buchanan (MFish)
Reece Murphy (MFish)

General discussion on perceptions of excess customary take under the guise of the customary permitting system. Brendan Flack, a kaitiaki for the Huirapa runanga from Karitane, explained that he has only issued approx 3 permits in the last two years and, further, he is usually the gatherer. Peter Moir expressed concern the information/collation was not getting through, the process is breaking down somewhere and loosing the transparency that could re-assure the public.

It was agreed that for the majority of species, customary take was insignificant and, while there were still some internal issues for Ngai Tahu to resolve, the system was mostly working adequately.

Noel said commercial, recreational and customary should work together for the good of the fishery.

Ted would like to see an increase in compliance in the Karitane area. This would be appreciated. Noel to give Brendon his phone number for assistance in the future.

REGIONAL UPDATES

Akaroa (Bob Meikle)

No information will be supplied by me for this period via the normal regional update in protest at the just released unwarranted and unjustified measures relating to the Hectors/Maui dolphin protection. Any faith and goodwill demonstrated by amateur fisheries in the past co-operation with MFish and DOC has been completely annihilated and is taken by myself and the Akaroa Harbour Recreational Fishing Club (Inc) membership as an indication that our input into future amateur fishing related matters will be similarly disregarded and result in furthering the progressive erosion of legitimate access to our amateur fishery entitlement.


Kaikoura (Bill Hartley)

Weather: Good mixture of fine to rough/wet and dry.

Sea conditions: Had good mixture of rough to dead flat and crystal clear to dirty water.

Fish Species:

Rock lobster best for years. Blue cod catches low (patchy) and fish size down. Despite the problem with poachers, can still find a few paua for a feed, but definitely down. Some school groper about but not in big numbers. Moki numbers up. Butterfish good. Kahawai improvement over last few years.

General Comment:

Richard Craig, Kaikoura’s recreational fishing rep at Te Korowai, is concerned at the lack of recreational fishing representation and of being grossly out-numbered. He feels unable to defend issues on his own. A lot of Canterbury people holiday and fish this region and we need their support too. If the non-recreational fishers get their way we will be looking at big cuts to recreational bag limits.

Moeraki/Shag Point (Noel Parker)

Weather: Changeable

Sea Conditions: Lost of easterly roll to south/south-west.

Fish Species:

Good, big rock lobster in the area. Paua good, some good size. A few groper still being caught. Red cod poor. A few dusky dolphins.

Canterbury Diving (Ross Divett)

Weather: Overall a windy period.

Sea Conditions: Limited flat seas mostly large swells and chop.

Fish Species:

Scallops in Sounds have reduced. Is it a good idea to limit extra catch to just Skipper not boat person? Sea perch, heaps offshore. Trumpeter good offshore. Moki in large numbers inshore netting and large numbers of kingfish off Lyttleton early in year. Heaps of Hectors, also Dusky dolphins. Humpback whales seen 5 k offshore.

General Comment:

Marlborough Sounds keen to see bays closed off as in Double Bay.

South Canterbury (Gerald O’Rourke)

Weather: Predominantly north-easterlies with a few southerly rolls.

Sea Conditions: From 1 metre to 3 metres.

Fish Species:

Blue cod were caught in small numbers at the wreck of Holmglen. Sometimes there are blue cod on the north rock and sometimes they are hard to locate. This rock has recently been set-netted by commercial fishermen. According to my informant, there are still paua available in certain locations on the inshore reefs. No reports of groper recently. Red cod are still scarce around Timaru. Plenty of mussels on inshore reefs. Butterfish are on the inshore reefs in good numbers. Moki are still there too. Salmon were still being caught to the end of March in the Rangitata, Opihi and Waitaki Rivers. Hectors dolphins have left the inshore zone.

General Comment:

Nothing has changed, fish still hard to catch.

North Canterbury (Chris Shuker)

Weather: A lot of north-east and strong southerlies, good over last couple of weeks.

Sea Conditions: More settled allowing fishers to get a crack at the Strawberry Patch and LeBons Rocks fish species.

Fish Species:

Good season of paua in Motunau and Kaikoura Coast, Peninsula bag limits hard to get. Good catches of blue cod still being caught in shallow water around heads of Lyttelton Harbour, etc, up to 4.5 kg fish. Red cod scarce around Motunau but occasional two or three caught during fishing at Kaikoura, big fish 3-4 kg. Great catches of groper at Akaroa Hole and Strawberry Patch, one fisher caught limit on one day of school groper, but up to 12 kg. Plenty of butterfish and moki for spear fishermen. Net ban off as usual great catches, large moki, four to five to a fish case. Large trumpeter still being caught in deep water, but back on numbers. Good season for crays for potters and divers, large bucks in close.


The last of the representatives arrived and it was then requested the Advisory Committee confer without MFish staff present. Upon the return of MFish staff, the following motion was put to the committee.

PROPOSED MOTION FOR SOUTH EAST FISHERIES ADVISORY GROUP MEETING OF THE 31st May 2008.

Members of the South East Fisheries Advisory Group will not participate in the meeting to be held this day, the 31st May 2008 in Dunedin in protest at the just released unwarranted, draconian and unjustified measures relating to the protection of Hector’s/Maui dolphin. Any faith and goodwill demonstrated by Amateur fishers in past co-operation with MFish and DOC has been completely annihilated and is taken by the membership of the committee to be an indication that our input into future amateur fishing related matters will be similarly disregarded and result in furthering the progressive erosion of legitimate access to our amateur fishery entitlements.

Moved:…Meikle………… Seconded:…Lewis………………..

The motion was Carried


The meeting was, therefore, adjourned.