Fisheries plan – does it go far enough?

A draft fisheries plan for the Hauraki Gulf which still allows bottom trawling and Danish seine fishing is out for public consultation.

The plan also addresses the management of scallops and a review of the management of intertidal harvesting, and supports greater mana whenua and regional participation in fisheries management.

It has already been criticised by fishing lobby group LegaSea. The group says implementing more no-fishing zones is meaningless if destructive damage goes on unabated. It says the Government is not being ambitious enough with its Revitalising the Gulf strategy.

“This plan does not take meaningful steps to address the root causes of environmental damage and reduced biodiversity in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. The most effective response is 100% seafloor protection. This starts with removing mobile bottom-contact fishing methods from the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park – bottom trawling, scallop dredging and Danish seining.

“More protection in the Government’s eyes amounts to 17.6% of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park becoming ‘protected’, up from the current 6.6% protection from marine reserves and cable zones.”

Director fisheries management Emma Taylor says the plan reflects a commitment to an ecosystems-based fisheries management approach. 

“We recognise that all species in the fishery are connected and interdependent and this is reflected in the draft plan,” Taylor says.

“The draft plan will be supported by the development of fisheries indicators and a monitoring framework to measure progress over time. If approved, it will be New Zealand’s first area-based fisheries plan.

Fisheries New Zealand is inviting people to provide feedback on the plan before March 3.

More information, including how to submit feedback, is available at: mpi.govt.nz/draft-hauraki-gulf-fisheries-plan