NZ Angling & Casting Association: Snapper 1 fishery

1 August 2013

New Zealand Angling & Casting Association on Snapper 1 fishery

The options now under consideration for managing the Snapper 1 fishery spanning east Northland, the Hauraki Gulf and the Bay of Plenty - SNA1 - place responsibility for conserving fish stock solely on members of the public.

“It is absolutely ridiculous to even consider imposing stricter recreational catch limits without fair and reasonable changes on the commercial sector” says NZACA spokesperson, Jim Yeoman. “The impact of recreational fishing is a drop in the ocean compared to the damage done by bulk harvesting. Recreational fishers don’t kill massive numbers of juvenile fish or dump legal sized fish or gut hook undersized fish. Collateral damage and commercial overfishing is the single biggest problem for SNA1 stock numbers. Cutting the recreational catch does absolutely nothing to address this massive problem.”

NZACA wholeheartedly endorses the need for more sensible, sustainable fishing practices. We do not however support any of the three options presented by the Ministry of Primary Industries. Legasea and the NZ Recreational Fishing Council are doing a fantastic job putting real facts and figures in the public domain. NZACA will be working in close partnership with them both to seek a more sensible and realistic approach to rebuilding SNA1 fishery stocks.

NZACA member clubs and individual members of the public are strongly urged to voice their opinions on this issue. “Stand up and be counted. There is a fundamental public right at stake here and you need to guard it and protect it now” says Jim Yeoman. Submissions must be made before 4pm on Friday 23 August (email fmsubmissions@mpi.govt.nz).

ENDS

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