Hauraki Gulf/ Bay of Plenty Recreational Forum Minutes

Date: 16th September 2008

Time: 2pm – 6pm

Venue: Ministry of Fisheries
11 Nikau Crescent
Mt Maunganui
Tauranga

Present: Peter Ellery (chair), Richard Baker, John Friend, Don Glass, Peter Hempleman, George Johnston, Anthony Olsen, Peter Stevenson, Vance Fulton, John Holdsworth, Andrew McCulley (MFish), Alan Moore (MFish), Andy Warmbrunn (MFish), Neville Buckley (MFish), Nick Bentley (MFish), Tom Teneti (MFish), John Taunton-Clark (MFish - via video-conference).

Apologies: Geoff Manks, Kim Walshe, Rick Pollock, Keith Ingram, Mark Hemmingway, Brendon Mikkleson (MFish).

Draft Summary of Discussion

Welcome and opening

Peter Ellery as chair opened the meeting and welcomed members. Forum members welcomed a new member; Vance Fulton.

Vance introduced himself as vice president of the Mt Mangonui Sport Fishing Club, and as a Tauranga local on and off over the last 20 years but a permanent resident for the last 5 years.

Approval of previous minutes

The previous minutes were approved by the forum.

Matters arising from previous minutes

MFish provided forum members with maps of the amateur fishing regulations for the Hauraki Gulf and for the Bay of Plenty. Maps of commercial restrictions were supposed to be distributed to forum members, but an error in the maps meant they could not be. MFish agreed to distribute copies of the amateur maps via email, as well as copies of the commercial maps once the maps are corrected.

Action: MFish to email fishing regulation maps to members.

John Friend updated the forum on the CRA3 submission which he had sent to the Minister of Fisheries. He updated the forum that the recreational fishing council was refuting the response from the minister.

Issues relating to commercial Marlin catch and “hewi the kiwi” were delayed until later in the meeting until Richard Baker arrived to discuss.

MFish website

Nick Bentley spoke to the forum about the upcoming improvements to the MFish website; www.fish.govt.nz. Nick asked forum members for their input into the new website, specifically what they would like to see, and what they would find valuable.

Nick went through some of the upcoming improvements to the MFish website such as up to date fisheries information (through the data warehouse project), research documents, plenary documents, the NABIS mapping program and a legislation database (NORA).

Nick asked the forum their thoughts about the forum having its own recreational forum page on the MFish website, what they would like to see on such a webpage.

Forum members gave positive feedback on the improvements to the website. It was discussed and recommended that MFish find a way utilise the popularity of www.fishing.net.nz website in particular the online fishing forums. It was noted by MFish that this would be problematic, but worthwhile to follow up on. Also, the idea of the recreational forum having an “issues” or “have your say” page for public input was raised by the forum.

Compliance update

Neville Buckley and Tom Teneti gave the forum an update on compliance matters. Neville began by introducing Tom Teneti, the new District Compliance Manager for East Cape region.

Neville began by talking about MFish’s display at the recent Waikato boat show, and that there had been good numbers through the MFish site, he also noted that there would be an MFish presence at the upcoming Tauranga boat show.

Neville updated the forum on the fishing around the region; Tarakihi numbers are ok, snapper are more difficult to get and lots of barracouta around. Scallops inside Tauranga harbour aren’t in great condition, but outside the harbour the scallops are much better.

Neville talked about the upcoming Maui’s dolphin set net restrictions coming into force 1 October 2008, and the work that is being done on brochures and signage to help inform people of the rule changes.

Tom gave the forum an update from the Gisborne region. He spoke of the ongoing work on the foreshore and seabed regulations, and of a voluntary commerical closure at the top of the CRA3 management area.

Tom also spoke of so issues with black market poaching in the area, and the difficulties faced by fisheries officers. The forum discussed their concerns about poaching, and concerns with MFish estimates of how much is being taken.

Neville talked about problems with some of the previous MFish rulers distorting and becoming inaccurate. He informed the forum that the issue had been solved with new ruler being produced in a different material.

Richard spoke to the forum about the Big Game Fishing Council’s support for “The Minstral” to provide marine education in schools through his “Hiwi the Kiwi” character. Richard was keen to see if MFish would be interested in supporting this. Neville agreed to make enquiries into it, and to put Richard in contact with someone within MFish who deals with such things.

Action: MFish to put Richard in touch with someone to discuss “Hiwi the Kiwi”

Section 13 issues

John Taunton-Clark joined the forum via video-conference from Auckland.

Richard Baker gave the forum an update of the Big Game Fishing Council and option4’s opposition to MFish’s proposed amendments to section 13.

John went over the background to the issues relating to section 13, and explained that the proposed amendment was aiming to allow previous TAC setting to be lawful.

Richard raised the concerns of the Big Game Fishing Council (BGFC) that the information requirement under the current section 13 legislation was only likely to be met by a small number of fish stocks. Richard’s concern with the proposed section 13 amendment was that it would compel the Minister to use BMSY as a target threshold. Richard spoke of the need for a more conservative approach to fisheries management, with a shift towards a precautionary approach rather than the current BMSY management. He highlighted that historically BMSY has been a target for management, and has not provided for social and cultural wellbeing.

John explained that the intent of the proposed amendment was to make it easier for MFish to manage fisheries with low levels of information. The proposed amendment is a solution to issues with the current legislation, which has effectively left MFish unable to easily alter TAC’s either up or down.

Richard said that a comprehensive submission had been put forward to the select committee, essentially arguing that the proposed amendment would “water down” the information requirements for the commercial fishing industry.

Alan Moore noted that the Fisheries Act review was scheduled for 2009 and suggested that some of the issues may be more appropriately dealt with through that process.

Regional Round up/ Fisheries Issues

Richard Baker spoke of MFish’s 2030 vision, and a recent meeting with MFish and numerous stakeholder group representatives. He suggested that public expectations of fisheries were not being met, and that this should become more of a focus. Later on Richard referred to his concerns about the lack of information MFish has on the interdependence of stocks. Richard’s example related to Aquaculture potentially competing with wild scallops stocks.

George talked about MFish getting better results from stakeholders and that the public would “buy in” if they see government “buy in”. Using the example of purse seining in the Bay of Plenty, he highlighted that the Kahawai stocks returned when the purse seine fishers stopped fishing in the area.

Richard Baker spoke about kahawai numbers in the Hauraki Gulf being a positive sign, George said that snapper fishing is the best he’s seen in 20-25 years. Vince suggested that better fishing could be related to method changes, particularly the recent introduction of soft baits and fish finders, although this was questioned by George.

Peter Stevenson updated the forum on fishing in the Pauanui and Tairua area, noting an increase in kingfish, kahawai, gurnard and barracouta. Peter also asked MFish about the proposed extension to the Wilson’s Bay aquaculture management area in the Firth of Thames, specifically about the effects of the proposal. Alan Moore explained the process to the forum.

Richard updated the forum regarding commercial marlin catch, and the issue of MFish’s 1997 marlin initial positioning and final advice papers (IPP/FAP). The FAP noted that the BGFC supported the proposal, Richard disputed whether this was accurate. MFish has been unable to provide any records of the submission, and suggested that BGFC support may have been given at a meeting rather than formally. Richard requested that it be clarified that the BGFC policy is contrary to that of the 1997 marlin IPP/FAP and always has been.

Peter Stevenson talked about good numbers of tarakihi in the Whangamata area, but north of “slipper” the fishing is not so good. Vance said that the tarakihi had come in much later this year. George suggested that the tarakihi had come in early, and had gone away and recently returned.

Draft Scallop Code of Practice

Alan Moore ran through the draft scallop code of practice with the forum. There was debate about what constitutes the “first available opportunity”. It was agreed that there was some degree of difficulty in counting and sorting on the bottom, and the best approach was to sort and count as you go, and if need be then immediately after returning to the boat.

There was also debate regarding the safety person, and who could be considered as a safety person. The term “safety person” was also debated with the forum agreeing that if the purpose of allowing for a safety person was for sustainability then the term “safety” is not appropriate. The debate related to not being able to collect a bag limit of other species (other than scallops and dredge mussels) for the safety person. The forum talked about the possibility of removing the term “safety” from the regulations. It was agreed that the issue would be an agenda item for the next meeting, as well as discussing crayfish nooses.

Action: Boat safety person allowance, and crayfish nooses to be added to the next agenda for discussion.

Update on Tangata Whenua Initiatives

Alan updated the forum about the Mount Manganui/Tauranga mätaitai which has been approved by the Minister. Alan also talked about Umapuia beach which is proposed to be closed under section 186A for the taking of cockles. Alan talked about the sustainability concerns at the beach where the cockle population has reduced from 90 million down to 12 million. High levels of non-conformance observed by fisheries officers over the summer period supported the need for a closure.

Alan also talked about the proposed seasonal closure of Cockle Bay, where significant harvest pressure has occurred recently. Fisheries officers estimated that there were 1500 people collecting on Auckland anniversary, with bag limits not well adhered to. The proposal is to have a seasonal closure over summer, but still allowing harvesting over the winter months.

Anthony Olsen talked to the group about a Ngatï Awa proposal for a mätaitai. Anthony talked about Ngatï Awa looking for community support, and their wish to include non-mäori in the process, with the aim to provide for all New Zealanders.

Charter Boat Reporting

MFish circulated the IPP for requirements for charter boat reporting. The IPP is also available on the MFish website www.fish.govt.nz under the consultations link - Review of Regulatory Measures 1 June 2009. Submissions close on the 22 October 2008.

National Recreational Forum Hui

Andy Warmbrunn talked to the forum about the upcoming national recreational forum. Andy asked members to put forward the most important national and local issues which they would like discussed at the National Recreational Forum Hui.

National issues:

• Recreational fishing trust
• 2030 Vision
• Local area management
• Fisheries Act review
• Boatman’s bag limit
• Process and science of setting of TAC/TACC’s -“how many fish are in the fridge?”
• Customary liaison
• MFish’s consultation process
• Value- commercial / recreational fishing - Intrinsic, dollar value

Local issues:

• Local area management
• Customary liaison
• Commercial impact – pressure of commercial take (spatially)
• Fishing of spawning snapper

Andy also asked forum members if they wanted MFish to arrange a guest speaker on any particular topic/s. It was suggested by a forum member that MFish could arrange someone from Australia to talk about their experience and assessment of recreational fisheries licensing – “warts and all, good and bad”.

Nominations were sought for 2 forum members to attend the National Recreational Forum Hui. Richard Baker and Anthony Olsen were nominated, but members agreed to email MFish to confirm nominees once they had final agreement.

The National Recreational Forum Hui will be held in Auckland on the 19th and 20th of November.

Date and location of next meetings

The forum agreed to change the date of the next meeting to the 11th November to accommodate the national recreational forum hui. The meeting will be held at MFish’s Auckland office.