Industry Happy to Talk About Sharing Otago-Southland Paua
PRESS RELEASE
14 JUNE
2013
Industry Happy to Talk About
Sharing the Otago-Southland Paua Fishery
The Otago Southland paua industry says it wants to make the most of the next few months to try to reach agreement with recreational and customary paua divers over shared access for areas of the coastline.
The Minister for Primary Industries, Nathan Guy, has announced that consultation on commercial access would continue for areas that previously had been closed because of a health risk.
PauaMac5 Chairman, Storm Stanley, says the industry is not asking to take a single paua more than its existing quota.
“We have coexisted with recreational and customary divers for years across the majority of what is a healthy fishery along the rest of the coastline,” Storm Stanley says.
“I’m confident we can reach some agreements about how these areas can be used and managed. This is not just about who gets to fish where – it is about improving the fishery for everyone.”
“We look forward to talking with the present users of these areas, to see what their concerns are and work out a way, regulatory or otherwise, to share the fishery and assist in its management.”
ENDS