My Account
Fishery officers had a quiet time over summer, which they say was largely due to the weather.
They say overall, recreational fishing compliance was good, aside from mainly minor infringements.
Some of these included reports of undersize snapper at the Mangawhai boat ramp and an illegal set net at Leigh, which led to one person receiving an infringement notice.
Fisheries NZ regional manager for fisheries compliance Phillip Tasker says officers also responded to a report of a person fishing at the Goat Island Marine Reserve and those inquiries are continuing.
“MPI takes a practical approach to compliance with the fishing rules,” he says. “A lot of our work includes educating people on the rules, which is aimed at changing behaviour.
“Sometimes this work includes issuing infringement notices when we find rules are being broken deliberately, or in more serious cases, the matter is placed before the court.”
Tasker says fishery officers have been doing regular patrols in the Mahurangi and Kaipara areas, including vessel patrols when the weather has allowed.
“Poor weather in these areas has meant there’s been less recreational fishing during the holidays and the easterly weather pattern has seen more people going to the west coast to fish.”
Fisheries New Zealand continues to encourage recreational fishers to adopt a ‘take only what you need for a feed’ approach and to follow the fishing rules this summer.
Fishers can also download the free for region-specific information on fishing rules to help protect our kai moana for future generations.
Info: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/fishing-aquaculture/recreational-fishing/nz-fishing-rules-app/
Suspicious behaviour can be reported on 0800 4 POACHER (0800 47 62 24) or email ncc@mpi.govt.nz.
Gulf Fisheries plan – does it go far enough?
A draft fisheries plan for the Hauraki Gulf that 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
