Labour Will Put Recreational Fishers First

National is again putting big business ahead of hard-working Kiwis by cutting the snapper bag limits and increasing fish sizes while leaving the commercial quota untouched, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says.

“Going out on the boat and catching snapper for the family is an iconic Kiwi tradition. I get that. That’s why Labour will put the interests of recreational snapper fishers ahead of fishing companies.

“Fisheries Minister Nathan Guy has done the opposite. He has made a cynical decision that solves nothing. It’s another example of National’s crony capitalism.

“If John Key and Nathan Guy think that reducing the bag limit and increasing size limits is a good thing for recreational fishers they are completely out of touch.

“Nathan Guy said he needed to ensure the sustainability of the Snapper 1 fishery. Instead he has raised the total catch allowance and failed to lift the stock to a higher sustainable level.

“To keep Snapper 1 sustainable everyone should participate. That’s not happening under National. There no cut to the commercial take. The reality for recreational fishers who head out onto the water is a cut to their bag limit.

“Commercial fishers also have no change to snapper sizes. They can catch a 25 cm snapper whereas recreational fishers have to throw back anything under 30 cm. Again crony capitalism wins.

“It is no surprise National has caved into big business when there are such close links between the party and commercial fishing,” David Cunliffe says.

ENDS

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