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TOS Regional Recreational Forum - Wednesday, 25 January 2006
Open Meeting & Apologies
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Meeting chair, Leigh Mitchell (MFish), opened the meeting at 5.40pm and welcomed attendees.
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Attendees |
Ron Adams Martyn Barlow John Duncan Greg Goodall Betty McNabb Ron Prestage Mark Roden John Waugh John Williams Nathan Glassey Leigh Mitchell |
Introductions |
Leigh welcomed Nathan Glassey (Fisheries Analyst, Central Inshore Team, MFish) as the forum’s new coordinator. Nathan provided the forum with a précis of his career with the Ministry of Fisheries and experiences as a fisher. He noted he was looking forward to working with the forum. |
Corresp. |
Incoming Correspondence: Leigh noted some members had requested information in the period since the last meeting and asked if they had received satisfactory responses. Members noted they had. Outgoing correspondence: - Notes from first meeting – draft updated handouts on objectives, etc
- Notice of Meeting (including December “MFish Update” newsletter)
- Information on other forums
- Request for Agenda items
- Agenda for Meeting
Some members noted they had not received the outcomes from the first meeting. Action: Include notes from first meeting with minutes to this meeting. |
Regional Update |
Members provided an update on recreational fishing in their local areas. A form was submitted by most members. In summary: More blue cod around, mostly small-very small in size but some bigger fish being seen Scallop abundance was good pre-Christmas but now thin on the ground, probably due to high fishing intensity over holiday period Rock lobster plentiful over a range of sizes in some areas but only littlies in other areas Snapper fishing is reasonable but not as good as last year A bit more kahawai than last two years Mammal (fur seal and dolphin) numbers have increased. Orca seen in Delaware Bay Compliance feedback:
Action: Leigh to report compliance feedback to local compliance manager. |
MFish Update |
General Update Nathan provided a brief overview of the “MFish Update” distributed to members in December. noting the following additional information: April sustainability round consultation is now underway and submissions close on Friday 17 February (Nathan made copies available). In the December Update we signaled three issues relevant to recreational fishing. Two issues related to constraining illegal paua fishing, but these have not progressed as more work on problem definition is required. The Statement of Intent has not yet been released for consultation. It is likely to be released in February. Consultation on introducing the following species into the QMS is underway and closes on the 24 February 2006: conger eel, albacore tuna, seal shark and prawn killer (Nathan made copies available). MFish is working with stakeholders on three pilot fishery plans – these are Coromandel scallops, southern blue whiting and Foveaux Strait Oysters. You can track progress on these fishery plans through the MFish website.
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The first stage of consultation (local community consultation) on Te Atiawa’s mätaitai reserve application over Tory Channel is complete. The second phase will begin shortly and involves MFish calling for submissions from people with an interest in fishstocks in the proposed reserve. Michelle Pawson, who is processing the application, has offered to contact forum members directly when the consultation begins. Nathan provided an information sheet on the application. NIWA is still seeking diarists for the recreational survey.
Members commented that: they were generally pleased with the outcome of the recreational regulations review but noted lassoes were widely used by recreational fishers to catch rock lobster and should be made legal members asked about the application process for mätaitai reserves and the effects of reserves on recreational fishing. Nathan gave an overview and distributed both a factsheet on mataitai reserves and the customary regulations information booklet.
Shared Fisheries Policy Initiative Lindie Nelson (Policy Team, MFish) and Kim Drummond (Manager Fish Plans, MFish) joined the forum to discuss the “Shared Fisheries Policy Initiative”. They provided a handout setting out the scope and timeframe of the project, and the key issues and challenges the project team had identified so far. Lindie and Kim noted the project was still at a very early stage and they were seeking input and ideas on: Forum members noted they would consider the information and talk with their organizations, then provide feedback directly to Lindie at a later date. Initial comments by members included: need recreational right set down first need to address past injustices TAC and allocations usually set based on catches at a certain point in time – need to break out of that approach, especially given poor catch information for non-commercial the TACC is based on weight which means more fish if fish are small –bigger impact on sustainability recreationalists do not have access to tools to improve their fishing – need some targeted tools.
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Forum members invited Lindie and Kim back to their next meeting to discuss the initiative in more detail. Action: Forum members to provide Lindie with feedback directly. Stakeholder-led Fisheries Plans Kim provided a brief update on progress of two of the commercial stakeholder-led fisheries plans relevant to the area – RIG 7 and SCA7. RIG7 The Challenger FinFisheries Management Company submitted the plan to the Minister for consideration. MFish analysis indicated there were some legal issues with a few proposals set out in the plan and notified Challenger. Challenger has modified the plan and resubmitted it for consideration. SCA7 The Challenger Scallop Enhancement Company is looking at how to incorporate the feedback received during consultation. The process does not require Challenger to re-consult, but Challenger may decide to if they modify the plan significantly. Kim also noted PAU7 fisheries plan discussions were continuing but had no new information to report at this time. |
Regional Issue 1: Bottom fishing methods in the region |
John Duncan presented on the amount of commercial bottom trawling and dredging occurring in various areas of the Marlborough Sounds, noting in particular: Reporting areas were too large to provide information on the level of activity and what was actually being caught within the Sounds Quantities being fished by commercial fishers are contributing to fish depletion on the Sounds and affecting the foodchain. Commercial bottom trawling and dredging methods are having significant direct and indirect effects on the ecology of the Marlborough Sounds. The zoning of inner and outer Sounds is incorrect and should be changed.
John concluded that the inner Sounds area should be closed to all commercial fishing except flounder fishing. Other forum members added their observations and agreed with John’s assessment. Nathan and Leigh noted MFish cannot move from observation to regulation – MFish has to check the facts and consider the range of possible regulatory |
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and non-regulatory solutions. The first step is to define the problem fully – is it not enough fish, and if so which species and what change in abundance has occurred? Or is it environmental effects, and if so what is the effect, how large is the effect and what is the impact on fishing and fish availability? Then must establish what the objective is in the context of fisheries legislation. If objective is not consistent with Fisheries legislation, then have to consider other avenues – eg, seeking voluntary agreements with other sectors, etc. If is consistent, then still need to consider full range of regulatory and non-regulatory options. The forum agreed to do further problem definition on the issue at the next meeting. Action 1. Forum members to further consider and talk problem through with respective organisations, and gather information to inform problem definition. Action 2. MFish to gather information to inform problem definition. Action 3. Note as carry-over agenda item. |
Regional Issue 2: Set netting |
Concern was expressed about the impact of commercial set netting practices (in particular laddering of nets) on local availability of flounder. The forum agreed this was a localised depletion problem rather than a sustainability problem. Leigh noted that fisheries legislation did not appear to have many tools to address localised depletion directly, other than the dispute resolution process. Leigh noted this therefore might be an issue members wish to bring to Lindie’s attention as part of the shared fisheries project. The indiscriminant nature of set nets – both commercial and non-commercial – and the impact this has on fishstocks was also discussed. Nathan pointed to the set netting Codes of Practice and the use of these to encourage appropriate set net use and minimise impacts. Forum members noted it may be time to ban set netting in some or all areas. The forum agreed to do further problem definition on the issue at the next meeting. Action 1. Forum members to further consider and talk problem through with respective organisations, and gather information to inform problem definition. Action 2. MFish to gather information to inform problem definition and present information on options for dealing with localised depletion issues. Action 3. Note as carry-over agenda item. |
Regional Issue 3: Fish abundance in Marlborough |
The forum noted earlier agenda items had captured concerns about fish abundance. |
General Business |
1. Additional Agenda Items Groper bag limit Forum members noted a decline if groper abundance, and also increased targeting of groper, butterfish and snapper by recreational fishers. Forum members agreed to discuss bag limits for groper at next meeting, and also bag limits and size limits for butterfish and snapper. Action. Note as carry-over agenda item. 2. Summary of Actions Agreed The following actions were agreed: MFish to distribute first meeting notes with second meeting notes Forum members to provide any feedback on shared fisheries policy initiative direct to Lindie Nelson Forum members to discuss and gather information on bottom trawling and dredging issue for problem definition session at next meeting MFish to gather information on bottom trawling and dredging issue for problem definition session at next meeting. Forum members to discuss and gather information on set netting issue for problem definition session at next meeting MFish to gather information on set netting issue and options for addressing localised depletion for problem definition session at next meeting. The following agenda to be carried to next meeting: Problem definition: Bottom fishing methods in region Problem definition: Set netting and localised depletion Bag limits and size limits for groper, butterfish, and snapper.
3. Next Meeting Possible dates for the next meeting were discussed. Nathan will work with members to finalise a date. |
Closing |
Meeting closed at 9.30pm. |
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