Word around here is that a number, if not all, comm. trawlers have been given permission to switch off their observation cameras.

Am I the only one who thought that they were a permanent thing only to find out now that they were only a trial?

you can only guess, if its true...

Shouldn't this thread be in the Fisheries Management forum?
Saying this just for the sake of consistency is all....

Can anyone verify if this in fact true, or if it's just another rumour before coms get another tongue-lashing?

SSManukau wrote: Probably no coincidence that it coincides with the rollover of commercial quotas at the star of this month, will be a free-for-all to scoop up the migrating fish.

So all the coms shoot out and completly fill there quotas in a "free for all " do they ?

of2fsh wrote: SSManukau wrote: Probably no coincidence that it coincides with the rollover of commercial quotas at the star of this month, will be a free-for-all to scoop up the migrating fish. So all the coms shoot out and completly fill there quotas in a "free for all " do they ?

My info came direct from a trawler skipper who also stated that about 12 of his fellow skippers (working for same outfit?) have either turned the cameras off or simply cut the wires.

I think you will find that he Minister has made a commitment for 25% of trawl fishing in SNA1 from 1 October 2013, rising to 50% from 1 October 2014 and 100% from 1 October 2015. This monitoring was via observer or camera coverage. In order to test the cameras as a monitoring tool a five month trial was carried out on 10 trawl vessels. I am told this trial concluded on 31 August.

As you mention the cameras have been stood down while the trial is evaluated. This should lead to improvements and or expansion of the electronic monitoring programme. During the period while the cameras are not operating there will be on-going observer coverage.

thank you as well from me,
any idea if they might publish any results?

i had an interesting Email the other day sent to me from MPI,

31st of August 1994,

the NSFMG carried out a Monitoring investigating Juvenile catch by season by single Trawl in the HG only,

the undersized percentage is 23.5% by number and 9.9% by weight,

the report also says a 4% of legal fish discarded over the side....

since then there has been another study done 2 FEB 1995
but this one has a confidentiality clause which makes MPI keep it a secret...

so what are they hiding? you can only guess that it must be damming for them not to release it....

and now we have cameras being disconnected or wires cut to stop anymore Monitoring????
why in-case someone exposes something???? 

Hi macherel, yes interesting,
it do's not say anything about standing down for evaluation, sort of makes a mockery of the whole situation due to the influx right now of fish heading into the gulf, just when they are likely to have their greatest catches they disconnect from recording, that means they get to screw the resources for another Year before any info comes out,
how much can these guys get away with before it all comes to a head????

http://beehive.govt.nz/release/new-monitoring-programme-snapper-1-fishing-vessels

The monitoring programme will initially cover 25% of the commercial trawl fleet, expanding to 50% of the fleet by 1 October 2014 and all of the fleet by 1 October 2015.

“This programme will provide greater information on the total commercial catch, particularly on the numbers of small snapper being caught and the size, age, location and timing of commercial catch generally.

“The information will provide the public and recreational fishers with greater reassurance that commercial fishers are following the rules. In general most are, but it will now be much tougher to break the law and get away with it.

“I’m very pleased that the fishing industry are also developing a ‘move on’ rule where fishers will have to move on from a fishing spot if too many juvenile fish are being caught.”

Work is also underway on introducing mandatory vessel monitoring systems on all commercial vessels by 1 October 2014, and a $7 million scientific tagging survey will be introduced by 1 October 2014.

“I want to thank the fishing industry for their support and willingness to work with officials to get these programmes up and running.”