Press Release

5 August 2011

Marlborough Sounds Blue Cod Management Group to Meet in November

The Minister of Fisheries Phil Heatley recently invited members of the BCMG (Blue Cod Management Group) to reconvene in November. The BCMG will play an important role in providing local information and perspectives to feed into the monitoring and review of the blue cod fishery.

The Marlborough Sounds Management Area will be closed to blue cod fishing on 30 August and the BCMG will meet before the reopening on 20 December and this first meeting since the new regulations came into effect will allow the Minister to receive the full range of viewpoints and allow the group members to view, share and discuss information.

All existing members of the BCMG have agreed to stay on and in addition local Iwi will be invited to nominate a representative to join the group.

There continues to be various theories and proposals being discussed by various groups and individuals as a way of managing the Marlborough Sounds blue cod fishery. The Minister and MFISH are running a process through the BCMG for the ongoing management of the fishery and members of the BCMG invite all interested groups and individuals to submit their ideas and feedback to the BCMG to ensure all options to be considered in the process.

Blue Cod Management Group Members
Beryl Archer – Tennyson Inlet Boat Club

Martyn Barlow – FMA 7 Recreational Forum

Mark Baxter – Marlborough Recreational Fishers Assn

John Duncan – Tasman and Sounds Recreational Fishers Assn.

Michael Hill – Soundfish

Eric Jorgensen - Soundfish

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