Seasonal set net ban to protect public safety

Set netting will be banned in Army Bay and Te Haruhi Bay within Shakespear Regional Park during summer from this year in an effort to reduce public safety concerns at the popular swimming beaches.

Auckland Council’s Regulatory and Bylaws Committee has approved a control that will prevent set nets being laid at these bays between 20 December and 31 March every year. The prohibited area extends 200m offshore.

“Shakespear is one of most popular regional parks, with thousands flocking there to swim and take part in a range of water-related activities in summer, including set netting – which is causing a conflict and of more concern, a risk to public safety,” says committee chair, Councillor Calum Penrose.

“Unfortunately, swimming, boating and set netting do not mix and council is concerned about the safety of all beach users. The seasonal ban only applies to Army Bay and Te Haruhi Bay.”

He says park rangers get dozens of complaints every year about the nets causing an obstruction for people and water craft getting tangled up in the nets.

Set netting will still be permitted at Okoromai Bay and other fishing practices are also allowed in all bays.

The committee also directed staff to monitor set net activity on Hatfield, Omaha and Browns Bay beaches this summer in light of similar concerns raised by local residents and the Hibiscus and Bays and Rodney local boards.

Those findings will be considered alongside the Rodney District Council – Prohibition of Set Netting Arkles Bay Bylaw review, which will take place early next year.

“I appreciate that the local boards and the community were keen for us to introduce a similar ban on these other locations from this year but we do need to consider other stakeholders and we need a bit more time to do this,” says Cr Penrose.

Background
· Under the Auckland Council Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw 2013 – council can set controls on beaches to manage issues regarding public safety

· The seasonal ban on set netting at Army Bay and Te Haruhi Bay is a control made under that bylaw

· Council can only introduce a ban on set netting in the best interests of public safety or to manage nuisance issues.

· The practice of set netting and managing the fisheries resource is the responsibility of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), which has a code of practice regarding the use of set nets.

· The Prohibition of Set Netting Arkles Bay Bylaw was introduced by the former Rodney District Council and prohibits set netting in the bay at all times. As part of the council’s review of all its bylaws, we will be reviewing this next year.

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