Don18025 wrote: It is complete and open for discussion. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11761532 And is the plan on their own web site. http://www.seachange.org.nz/Read-the-Plan/ New MPAs, Marine Protected Areas at the Mokes, Little Barrier, Mercury Islands, Firth of the Thames, Kswau, Noises, Colville. Plus new marine farming areas.... I am certain some will be happy with this and others grumpy. I am pleased to see that they intend to<span style="color: rgb51, 51, 51; font-family: Calibri, Candara, Segoe, "Segoe UI", Optima, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> "phase out" bottom-contact fishing methods such as trawling, Danish seining, set netting and dredging'</span> The Herald reports that MPI are in agreement.... but this is so different from MPIs Snapper 1 proposals and much more than their proposed round of consultation they offer to the meeting partcipants. We now have two MPI plans to study and a very strong community plan. Great reading for Xmas.

Yep. MPA's with no take areas nested within and all these proposed areas seem to tie in with recreational fishing spots. Coincidence?
Mmmmmm. "The new marine spatial plan recommended new local "Ahu Moana" marine areas, from the mean high-water mark to a kilometre offshore, would allow mana whenua and local communities to work together to manage their coastal area using existing statutory rights and practices".

No time frame given to cease bottom trawling?I can see no change for the next 20yrs when it will be to late.

Yes I read article admit to being cynical as will be to little to late bit like climate change action really...still it starts this way and momentum builds over time.

Sea change are doing a great job. Stopping sea floor damage is a great start, setting an mpa around the mercs is great too, all this concentration on the bloody hauraki gulf gets too tiresome, now they need to roll out similar areas in Hawkes bay and other heavily depleted areas.
Motiti island. Karewa island, penguin shoals, Raurimu rocks, Whale Islnd. White Island to the volkners, ......there are huge numbers of MPAs that should be established I think, those are all just in the BoP! (Yes, obviously, apart from Hawkes Bay)
So well done seachange! Now, please please, can we roll out more changes across the country!

Don18025 wrote: The good news is that the Sea Change report has identified the problems and suggested workable solutions. Banning of bottom damaging fishing and seting up MPAs. MPI have in their two processes basically said they need to get new, more up todate information; 1) The Future of our Fisheries 2) Snapper (SNA1) Strategy. No where has MPI discussed actual tactics to increase fishing sustainability - other than put more cameras on boats!  What the hell does our MPI Fisheries staff actually do?

Why would MPI want to do anything when the pressure is on to increase exports by 2018/2025??

Seachange/Scott M /Legasea all making sense and putting in hard yards for our benefit but cannot see The big players going without some form of a payout,remember they have been fishing these areas for over 100yrs and we the recreational have only increased our numbers and put pressure on the system since mid/early 70s when the runabout really came of age.