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Rockpool stripping continues
The rock pool strippers are winning. Our coastline is being cleaned out, rock pools across the country are bare, and still the gathering continues. Army Bay has been cleaned out and the majority of gatherers have now moved on to greener pastures. Meanwhile, across the road at Okoromai Bay, gatherers are complaining that the cockles are ‘too small’.The Mahurangi is now being targeted. Our coastline and intertidal ecosystem have been let down by you – the multiple ‘authorities’ who have failed in your duty to educate visitors and protect the coastline. New Zealanders have been raising their concerns with authorities for many, many years. I have been in regular contact with MPI and Fisheries NZ in particular, and Ngāti Manuhiri. I’ve been told to be patient, “things will change, laws will be updated, it’s not a quick process”. It’s now too late for Army Bay, and for the many beaches across the country that have been stripped clean because of you and your slow process.Meanwhile, gatherers work their way around the country, filling their buckets with anything that lives, starfish, limpet, black nerite, hermit crabs, very small crabs, anemone. Chisels and piano wire are used to remove all crustaceans. Thousands of buckets are removed from our beaches every week.The sheer number of gatherers alone renders the current quotas ineffective. All species, of all sizes, are being targeted. Our laws do not reflect this and are not protecting our rock pools.Like many New Zealanders, as a child growing up in this country, my love and respect for the sea started by looking into the rock pools and observing the interactions between species. I quickly learnt and appreciated the importance of this ecosystem on wider marine and sea bird life. Future generations should not be denied this privilege. Your continued ineffectiveness will deny this privilege. Yes, I blame the gatherers, but more so, I blame the authorities who are trusted and mandated to protect our marine life. I blame successive Governments for insufficiently funding Fisheries NZ. Seventeen full time Fisheries Officers protect the greater Auckland shoreline. New Zealand prides itself and has a global reputation on marine conservation, however the current management of our intertidal zone and rock pools is shameful and nothing to be proud of.
Mark Lenton, Army Bay
Edited and abridged for clarity:
Hibiscus Matters reached out to Fisheries New Zealand for comment about overharvesting on the Hibiscus Coast: “Fisheries New Zealand is aware of concerns from some people in Whangaparāoa regarding recreational fishing. We’ve increased the presence of our Fishery Officers in this area, including night patrols. The fishery is there for everyone, and we encourage people to download the free NZ Fishing rules mobile app to find out the rules in their area. People can also help protect our fisheries by reporting any suspicious fishing to 0800 4 POACHER (0800 47 62 24) or poacher@mpi.govt.nz. There are no current plans to change the fishing rules in the area. Changes to fishing rules must be supported by an assessment of the state of the fishery and public consultation.
Glen Blackwell, Fisheries New Zealand District Manager North Harbour
No pollution visible?
While reading the article about over 200 dead eels in Whangaparāoa (Hibiscus Matters, April 21), I was surprised to see that the council claims to have found “no visible signs of pollution” in the surrounding area! I frequently see rusted bikes, containers and such in the river there, and I’ve rescued submerged shopping trolleys twice. I took this picture on April 3, and it was like that for many days prior. I think this photo speaks for itself as to the pollution present on the day the eels died.
Name withheld, Whangaparāoa
