My Account
The anger and disappointment felt by those who fought for a permanent ban on set netting at Arkles Bay was expressed online last month after Hibiscus Matters posted a story on Auckland Council’s decision (October 13).
The decision, made by Auckland Council’s Regulatory and Bylaws Committee on October 13, replaced the current year-round ban with a summer-only ban that runs from Labour Weekend to Easter.
Crs John Watson and Wayne Walker said at last month’s Hibiscus & Bays Local Board meeting that they share the community’s frustration. “It shows that the shared governance model is not working when the community, local board and councillors present a united front and their evidence and views are ignored,” Cr Watson said.
Cr Walker says the councillors who voted for a summer-only ban also ignored evidence that there was actually more set netting over winter before the Rodney District Council ban was put in place in 2007.
The year-round set netting ban in Arkles Bay was unique in Auckland and this appeared to make it problematic for Council’s “one size fits all” approach.
Supporters of a year-round ban point out that set netters target Arkles because it is adjacent to the Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve and fish are plentiful. It is also a popular beach that is used all year round – once the ban is lifted, next Easter, residents fear that nets will pose a threat to the safety of other beach users – as well as non-target species such as birds or even dolphins that can get tangled in the nets.
Current signs about set netting will be replaced by December.
Council’s bylaws and compliance manager, Max Wilde, says that staff plan to proactively monitor compliance throughout the season.
He says this includes patrolling Arkles Bay next Easter to educate beach goers that set netting is banned until after the holiday weekend.
He says it is Council’s job to enforce the set net control, which has been made under the Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw. People found to be in breach of the bylaw may be prosecuted and fined up to $20,000. If residents see set netters operating over summer, while the ban is still in place, they should contact Council on 09 301 0101.
Registration numbers of vehicles involved may prove useful.
Once the ban is lifted, fishing quotas set by the Ministry of Primary Industries apply to any set netting. “If it looks like a commercial operation or there are concerns over the number of fish taken, the Ministry of Primary Industries should be alerted immediately,” Mr Wilde advises.
