Muppet wrote: Steps wrote: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/consultations/review-of-sustainability-measures-2021-october-round/?fbclid=IwAR2giurey0vkKZqu20xqG0U4MJlGEIdRrNy7G7CvnlYovUOEF4naUviLjYU Interesting/ informative link Ditto V8 sediments  Just got to see wher my  "Farmers protest" thread went.. no one even interested in the original theme of it when applied to our fisheries.. And AlanL post and quote: For evil to prevail, it just takes good men to do nothing. Steps, could we be misreading the majority of NZ now? Seriously? I mean you look at some of the agendas put forward and it seems like an uphill task to get any semblance of balance and common sense through. Mostly because special interest groups have the ear of the government and other areas of society. You hear some of the opinions on recreational fisherman out there and some seriously think we are out 24/7 pillaging the fish. I genuinely don’t think the public sympathies are with us or actually care to opinion on our side. And I think the vested interests know this.

smudge wrote: Muppet wrote: Steps wrote: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/consultations/review-of-sustainability-measures-2021-october-round/?fbclid=IwAR2giurey0vkKZqu20xqG0U4MJlGEIdRrNy7G7CvnlYovUOEF4naUviLjYU Interesting/ informative link Ditto V8 sediments  Just got to see wher my  "Farmers protest" thread went.. no one even interested in the original theme of it when applied to our fisheries.. And AlanL post and quote: For evil to prevail, it just takes good men to do nothing. Steps, could we be misreading the majority of NZ now? Seriously? I mean you look at some of the agendas put forward and it seems like an uphill task to get any semblance of balance and common sense through. Mostly because special interest groups have the ear of the government and other areas of society. You hear some of the opinions on recreational fisherman out there and some seriously think we are out 24/7 pillaging the fish. I genuinely don’t think the public sympathies are with us or actually care to opinion on our side. And I think the vested interests know this. I agree, a bunch of fishermen towing boats up the motorway won't capture the publics imagination like the tractors did.  Recreational fishers are generally so poorly aware of the issues yet have very strong opinions on what should be done - all wildly different of course - that infighting will either kill it or the powers that be will take the advice of those who advocate that we only need one fish per day.

I was going to mention the farmers but I stayed in subject for once 😂
Even those guys have it tough with public opinion and especially with negative political rhetoric. The message was clear from them and every nation that has messed up agriculture productivity does not do very well.

we spend most of our time as Recs arguing amongst ourselves rather than unite behind anything.

 I disagree.. rec when look at all points of view are very much similar.. ban in shore.. but distance out maybe different.
 Ban trawling , places differ but essence the same.
 Better controls on comms and quota..
thats common..
 Protest is bout common ground thu details may differ.

Farmers are the same, essence the same, be it this time round or driving tractors up parliament steps.. rem that?

So while potentially we should be able to harness a strong political lobby, we really are our own worst enemy while we can't agree on much of anything.

 Yes we can harness a strong lobby, espec considering recent docos being released, current  MPIreassessments etc
Yes rec are their own worst enemy.. and thats because they can fill in forms for submissions, end of story... At best only a handful have the nerve to get out publicly and wave a banner.. just like farmers.
 But jump on tractors head to town .. that sounds like news worthy big , big local community support, bit of fun, get
together for chat.

Funny ... Hitch up boats head to town, sounds like new worthy, big local community support, bit of fun, get together or a chat.

 Only Difference between farmers and rec fishermen is one is their living, rec fishermen is spare time recreation..
 Dont take this wrong, but going on previous actions over the last few decades, we at best are just keyboard warriors.

Sections of society that pollies just see as sitting back no real back bone to be active are just not a threat at the polling booths
 "When good men dont stand up....."

There is a very small handful of us who actually feel strong enough to hitch up our boats or some sort of other real time active protest to show the Government we are serious.. And feel let down by lack of real support by others.

So just sign away on the submissions and let the government do what ever they like FOR the commercial sector.
1 submission or 10,000 government makes no difference knows where the balance of money is, as against votes at the ballot box are... regardless of what party is in.
Always has been always will
 Till something dramatic beyond a keyboard, changes that.

 The fact we disagree on details is just an excuse....
 If we agreed there would be another excuse to do nothing.

We get what we deserve...and out grandchildren will get left with what we let happen and has been happening.

Steps.when we can tip $10 mill in to government coffers like Peter Goodfellow does for commercial then we have a chance

And to a polly what is more important.. 10 mil or be on the treasury benches ?
 
So what you are saying is.. and correct me if wrong.
" Rec fishermen dont have a chance of achieving anything be it by protest or keyboards.. roll over and take what is given"

 Seems to be a common theme..  more excuses not to do anything beyond the keyboard...
 I just go back to Alans quote:
For evil to prevail, it just takes good men to do nothing.

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