It has gone far enough already!
Without any public consultation and without the submission documents being available the Minister of Conservation has come out and stated...
"The American experience(with marine reserves)and our experience locally proves marine reserves have beneficial effects for recreational fishermen. I feel confident people on the Hibiscus Coast will see how it happens."
Does this mean it is already a fore gone conclusion that the marine reseve at Tiri will go ahead!
I wait with anticapation for NZ Underwater to release the submission Documents and proposal plans. Funny how they will do it over the next 2-3 weeks when everyone is away on holiday or too busy to think about the idea! I also note that the submissions will close at the end of Febuary. Doesn't leave long for any public consultation does it? Will the holiday makers in the area be the majority if there is any consultation? You know how they can turn the statistics around to show in their favour!
A recent letter to the editor was refused as it was too long. The only reason it was long, I told them, was because there was alot of factual information that needs to be passed on to the public so an educated point of view can occur.
I will keep you posted and if you require submission documents let me know at [email protected] and I can organise a set for you.
Damian Clayton- THE CHARTER CONNECTION
Hi Damian, as fate would have it I have just been published in todays Herald, letters to the editor. Have a read I would appreciate feed back on my litterary efforts.
Cheers
Graham
You guys are right - reserves are not a fisheries management tool. Arguing against the benefits of using them as a management tool will therefore get you nowhere with the Dept of Conservation.
Does anyone out there know on what basis pelagic fishing was eventually stopped at the Knights? I understand it was a long court battle, but I have never been able to find out what teh reason adopted by the courts actually was.
Thanks and happy fishing for Xmas all
Reidfish
In my opinion Mr Reidfish has emphasised one of the most telling points of these discussions for a while 'reserves are not a fisheries management tool. Arguing against the benefits of using them as a management tool will therefore get you nowhere with the Dept of Conservation'
This leads us in to what we need to be looking at now and that is strategy and tactics (I think that is where his reference to pelagics at the Knights was directed - am I right?). The perceived 'failure' of the recreational sector at the Knights and other locations is surely that we have been fighting the wrong battles or failing to speak in a language that DOC and its cronies understand or are even prepared to listen to. People who populate these boards and the people who are proposing Marine Reserves all over the show are clearly speaking a different language to each other - probably populating a different planet. Unfortunately we are not playing this game on an even playing field with stationary goalposts. It would appear that DOC decides the incline of the pitch and has the goalposts on trucks. It would appear to me there is little point just moaning about that (it's just the way it is) but we should be invistigating the best ways of countering their propositions.
I have laboured through DOC's Volkner Rocks Application (and sent my typed 'I do not agree' submission to Rotorua) and in the midst of its politically correct verbostiy there is very little real scientific evidence. Is this the way they always operate? I suspect so. Is there a forum where an opposition having proper evidence (if it exists) supporting their view can air that and get a fair and impartial hearing? Is there a mechanism whereby if there is no robust evidence on which to base a decsion, a decsion is not made until there is? (I suspect I know the answer to that one) Is there any way we can fight the upcoming battles in a different way from those that have gone before? - for if we do the same again the result is sure to be the same again.
I put the above questions forward as that - genuine questions asking for suggestions on future (and probably new) strategy and tactics. I do not pretend to know the answer to any of them (except perhaps the last one!)
obald
Hello guys
First time user, tho I have been following the forum for a year or so off and on.
I made a submission on the Volkners a while ago, and recieved a note from DOC saying that I should send 20 copies to somewhere or other. What is up here? I seem to recall Rick Pollack saying that they have 'lost', or shredded? a whole lot of submisions. This sounds like another tactic to wear down the opposition to anything that DOC wants.
Unfortunately I upgraded( or should that be up moneyed) my computer in the interim and have seemed to lost the submission, but it was along the lines Rick suggested in the Bayfisher magizine.
Here's to swimmin with bow legged women.
Hi all, I have heard a rumour that a reserve is also planned for Waiheke. Is this true?
Cheers
Graham
Yea Graham, then they're going to put a reserve around the beehive. Only trouble is they're going to have to police that one as fishermen might get in there!
Ross
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 >