26 July 2013

SOS – Save our Snapper!

Commercial exploitation of our snapper resources will alienate the public from an important food source if proposed management changes are implemented. A national advocacy group, LegaSea, is challenging the proposals as unfair and is encouraging all New Zealanders to stand up for their interests.

Recreational fishers are rejecting all three options put forward by the Ministry for Primary Industries to rebuild the snapper 1 fishery spanning East Northland, the Hauraki Gulf and Bay of Plenty.

“Many families are struggling to put decent food on the table and if the Ministry goes ahead with their plans then there will be more hardship, especially in the regions, says Mandy Kupenga, spokesperson for LegaSea.

“What we’re facing is a loss of fundamental rights, a loss of income for business owners, and importantly a loss of food on the table for families.

“It’s ludicrous that all of the main options proposed mean massive cuts to recreational catch while abhorrent dumping of hundreds and thousands of undersized snapper occurs each year – by the commercial sector. This waste must be addressed before the people of New Zealand are penalised any more,” says Ms Kupenga.

Option one of the proposed changes translates into a 24% cut to recreational catch, while commercial quota is unchanged. The cuts could be imposed with a mixture of lower daily bag limits and increased minimum size limits for recreational fishers.

Option two means a 19% cut to recreational catch while commercial quota is INCREASED by 7%!

Option three is a recreational catch reduction of 30% for the public and a mere 7% cut for industry.

LegaSea are undertaking a campaign to “Save our Snapper”. They say the reasons are simple.

• All of the main options are clearly biased to the commercial sector.
• None of the options address commercial waste.
• The public will be significantly affected.
• Local recreational and marine businesses will suffer losses as will the local economy.
• Ministry advice has favoured commercial quota holders over public rights and this is just another example.

Mandy Kupenga, LegaSea spokesperson also says, “Since 1985 recreational fishers have taken four cuts in their catch in order to conserve fish. In contrast, commercial quota is still at levels similar to 1986. As recreational fishers we have done more than our fair share to rebuild the snapper 1 fishery – it’s time the commercial quota owners came to the party”.

In early August LegaSea will make it easy for people to have their say and send a submission to the Ministry on this topic. They encourage fishers and the public who care about the future to take advantage of this by heading to http://www.legasea.co.nz/snapper1.php

To further help people understand what’s at stake and answer questions LegaSea is holding a series of public meetings throughout the snapper 1 region starting in Whakatane on the 5th of August and finishing in Auckland on the 15th of August. More details can be found on their website.

Ends

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