The New Zealand Big Game Fishing Council

DATES FOR THE NATIONALS - 21 - 28 FEBRUARY 2009 - FOR MORE INFO GO INTO THE NZBGFC SITE

- See Click Here at the bottom of this page

One of the most often questions fielded by the NZBGFC, is 'the benefits of membership?' Clubs seeking new membership have considered this and direct their committees to join. With the passing of time many have forgotten why this was so and even question remaining members. So it is appropriate that we again review the benefits and whether the fee paid is value for money.

Firstly, the Council was formed to be the central body for all matters relating to the sport of game fishing in New Zealand.

It adopted IGFA fishing rules and ethics so that a consistent standard could be set when comparing catches. The NZBGFC offers additional records classes for NZ records beyond what IGFA offer for juniors and small-fry anglers. We have refined some of the IGFA rules to make them more suitable for our contests.  Our New Zealand based IGFA representatives keep a close liaison between IGFA and NZBGFC and have regular input into issues that could affect NZ anglers.

The NZBGFC website is maintained for all our members to read our records, rules, policies, history and matters of interest. Individuals can elect to stay abreast of all current issues and the latest significant catches by electing to receive a weekly on-line newsletter.  It is through this website we keep anglers updated daily on the results of the NZBGFC’s Nationals tournament, the premier fishing contest hosted by the NZBGFC.

We have promoted valuable marine research that is internationally respected.  This includes the game fish tagging programs for marlin, sharks, tuna and kingfish which now has a history of 17 years of information. The Council created and continues to support the NZ Marine Research Foundation (NZMRF) for the primary purpose of conducting research on fish species benefiting our membership that could not, or will not be financed by government agencies. Information from research carried out by the NZMRF foundation has been very valuable when justifying our position in species management.

The NZBGFC was instrumental in achieving and continually advocating the merits and benefits of the “no commercial take” marlin regulation within New Zealand’s 200nm EEZ. We continue to lobby hard for better management of all recreational species that our anglers target. This means interacting with government agencies at all levels including MP’s.

To maintain credible and persuasive arguments requires specialist technical, legal and advocate assistance which is funded by the NZBGFC.  When necessary the NZBGFC is prepared to take legal action on behalf of its members as demonstrated by the current legal action against the Minister of Fisheries on kahawai management. This particular legal action will have very important repercussions on the management of all species we compete with commercial fishers for.

Issues are not confined to fisheries management. The unnecessary growth of marine reserve applications that will achieve little in addressing important marine management issues is causing our members considerable grief. The NZBGFC has been active in campaigning to have more sensible reasoning when establishing or purposing marine reserves. Members have been faced with possible prosecution from extreme animal welfare activists for carrying out fishing as per our rules and ethics. We have vigorously defended these anglers and will continue to do so.

Input is required on aquaculture proposals, resource consent proposals or other actions which could affect water quality and/or access to fish and the sea.

The bottom line is clubs come to us knowing we will address these matters willingly on behalf of all our members. 
We do so with the combined strength we have in terms of skilled advocates, membership numbers and finances that gives us considerably more chance of success. We have formed powerful alliances with other recreational fishing groups to collectively attack these issues.  It is often this particular strength which brings new clubs to join Council. The alternative for clubs is to go alone and deal with these issues themselves.

There are other benefits with affiliated membership. Club members can travel throughout New Zealand and have access to weighing and reporting facilities of other affiliated clubs as well as visiting rights. Clubs allow affiliated members to fish their own contests without the need to join their club. This encourages more participation of each contest.

Occasionally, as can happen in any club there is a need to discipline members for gross misconduct. Affiliation makes this more meaningful as a suspension or banning for one club can be applied to all affiliated clubs in the NZBGFC.

Recently there have been new issues which have caused club committees

and their membership concern and have sought advice from the NZBGFC. Issues of occupational health and safety, maritime law and water safety, especially when fishing tournaments are hosted. As each new situation unfolds,

Information is quickly shared with all clubs to help prevent similar incidents with all members benefiting in the long term.
Finally there is the argument on how our fees are struck? They have always been based on a flat fee per individual member. Club committees with large memberships see a single amount paid for their combined membership fee and then question the value.

All they have to do is remind themselves, that the majority of what

the NZBGFC does is for the benefit of individual members rather than equal benefits for each club.
More fish in the sea, better access, water quality, individual legal protection, record recognition, research, advocacy, fishing data collection and dissemination are all individual benefits. While it may be the clubs who deliberate what the Council does and how, it is all for the benefit of individual members and so the fee is struck on an individual basis.
And the price for this - $6.50 per person per year. I will leave you to answer the question on value?

Jeff Romeril
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

NB: While the affiliation fee to the NZBGFC is $6.50 per person, in this financial year (2008/09) an additional 50 cents will continue to be collected and passed on as a donation to the NZ Marine Research Foundation.

To view the full NZBGFC website click here.

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