29 October 2015

Commercial and recreational fishers pick up the slack

The fishing giant Sanford’s decision to end its commercial operations in the Hauraki Gulf is a stinging indictment of the Government’s inaction which has left fisheries management in the gulf’s waters in limbo, says Labour’s Fisheries spokesperson Rino Tirikatene.

“Last year the Government identified the Hauraki Gulf as one of its first recreational fishing parks where commercial fishing will be off limits.

“Yet the Government now appears to have flagged the proposal, meaning commercial and recreational fishers are left to pick up the slack and work out their own arrangement.

“The Government promised to release a discussion paper last year, but the industry is still waiting. This is after they failed to consult major players like iwi before announcing the policy in the run-up to the election.

“The Government are letting down the industry as commercial, recreational and iwi fishers are left in limbo.

“Commercial and recreational fishers are now left to work out amongst themselves their own form of fisheries management,“ says Rino Tirikatene.

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