HALF bag limits. Don't like the sound of that. If that had been in force earlier this month Si and I would have had to cut the single fish we caught in half!!!
I like the idea of recreational only zones. The Hauraki Gulf came close to being that ... but its chief motivator , Allan Brewster, died before he could see it through.
Blueprint drawn up for national park at sea
Planning is under way to create New Zealand's first marine national park off Northland's east coast.
The 1800sq km park, running north from Whangarei Heads to Cape Brett, would not be as restrictive as a marine reserve.
Recreational fishing would be allowed throughout 90 per cent of its area, but commercial fishing would be banned.
The concept originated from the Northland Conservation Board which wants feedback on the initiative from economic, social, cultural and environmentally sustainable viewpoints.
A proposal is now being floated by Jeroen Jongejans a director of Northland diving charter company Dive! Tutukaka, who is to present the plan and an accompanying discussion document to a Northland Regional Council meeting in Whangarei today.
Mr Jongejans said yesterday the park would be several steps down in environmental and fish stock protection levels from a formally designated marine reserve.
"We've seen issues around the proposed [Department of Conservation] reserve for Mimiwhangata and wherever a marine reserve is proposed, it seems to engender a lot of controversy.
"What we're proposing could be a blueprint for other places. It's about a level of protection for the marine environment and increasing fish stocks.
"We have national parks on land so why not at sea?"
The park discussion document suggests that recreational fishing would still be allowed over 1620sq km but with allowable catches of only half normal bag limits.
The 180sq km no-take zone would include the existing 20sq km Mimiwhangata no-take area and the current 24sq km area around the Poor Knights Islands.
Mr Jongejans said the rules would have to be simple.
There were also likely to be employment spin-offs through fishing, tourist and other charter operators working the area, as well as shore-based eco-enterprises supplementing the park's attractions.
Details of who would manage a park have not yet been decided and will be one of a number of issues still to be discussed in talks with the Department of Conservation, Ministry of Fisheries, Ngatiwai and other coastal hapu, Whangarei District Council, commercial and recreational fishers, charter operators and tourism representatives.
A public meeting may also be called to consider the proposal.
The regional council's manager of planning and policy, Glenn Mortimer, is recommending to today's council meeting that the marine national park concept should be supported in principle.
But he notes that for the proposal to advance, it would need support from DoC, the ministry and the district council.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectID=10350977
hmmm , hardly worth going to toots for a couple of snaps !!
If it means still being able to fish recreationally. Anchor, Dive..etc. But excludes all commercial activity.... drag netting, long lining..etc. It can't be too bad can it?... May increase or help to preserve fish stocks and allow spawning season to get a fair go in this area....
Bring Back the Greens!!!
Too big too soon ,i agree with salty ...There is more to this agenda than they will ever tell the mortals....I like the no commercial but rec only part but with that much coast going into any sort of protective legslation i suspect the mortals are being lined up for another shafting....Why would they start all of a sudden and outta the blue caring about rec fishos concerns ,suspect they have learnt from the barrier debarcle "honesty costs money,better to slime the initial proposal just to get it out of the public arena' then once its before the commitee we will have a free reign to lock it like the knights(not that i have a problem with the knghts reserve its all good)
............I hope im wrong but suspicion abounds around this park....
Actually on 2nd read it doesnt look too bad.
So 90% of the area we can fish with half size bag limits and the other 10% ie the 180sq km no-take zone includes the existing 20sq km Mimiwhangata no-take area and the current 24sq km area around the Poor Knights Islands.
So yeah no real change I guess. I never take my bag limit anyway, partly cuz I dont usually catch that much but also I never need that much. Just take enough for a feed and I'm good.
And no commercial fishing pressures? thats gotta be good
Just where this may lead to in the future is the worry...
Sounds all very well, BUT, like others have said, it is merely the thin end of the wedge I am sure, and before long, it would be moved from the marine park to a total marine reserve, you can bet yo' ass!
Stu.
Its a bloody big area too.
This bloks who is proposing it doesn't actually sound very Kiwi does he? Perhaps he could take the idea "home" with him.
Tasman and Golden Bay snapper still running hot We are not far away from daylight... Read More >
Variety is the spice of life On one recent trip, the plan was to spend a... Read More >
Fish where the fish are! Catching fish or just going fishing? I tackle this issue... Read More >
Thoughtful tactics required for better fish Over the course of each year the fishing varies,... Read More >