Ensuring Kiwis' rights to fish

Fishermen are known to be patient people. It's just as well, for when it comes to ensuring that recreational and customary fishing rights are protected and enhanced, it seems like the Government is forever trawling.

More than a million New Zealanders fish for fun and food every year - a right that needs to be clearly established for all New Zealanders, and responsibilities that need to be similarly clear.

Sustainability is the key issue: just as we can't continue to deplete our farm land neither can we plunder our fisheries. International concerns, fishing patrols, and (ideally) voluntary conformity with an agreed quota management regime need to be dealt with.

The Marine Reserves Bill had its first reading in Parliament back in October 2002 and was referred to the Local Government and Environment select committee, which completed its hearings in early 2003. The primary aim of the Bill was to provide a better basis for New Zealand to meet biodiversity protection objectives by identifying the marine environments that are a priority for protection and to provide a better basis for managing and enforcing marine reserves.

But, the Foreshore and Seabed Act, the requirement for stakeholder consultation and the number of proposals up for consideration has meant that the fiveyears- old Bill has had to be amended and the select committee is yet to report back.

New Zealand First has some concerns with the Bill. In particular, we feel that the level of consultation that has taken place and the number of proposals now up for consideration have clouded the primary purpose of the Bill.

Public consultation on fisheries issues needs to be meaningful and encourage effective communication and collaborative problem solving. While some of the proposals up for consideration may have some valid arguments, New Zealand First is adamant that recreational and customary fishers should not be denied the right to fish in our waters.

Before entering into any shared management arrangements with recreational, customary or commercial fishers, we need to be satisfied that fish stocks will be maintained at or above the sustainable level; the negative effects of fishing on the aquatic environment will be avoided; and proposed management plans will not hinder other fishers.

This is why New Zealand First is proposing to create a middle tier of marine reserves, which allows for recreational fishers, but not commercial fishing. We believe that while there is some abuse of the system, recreational and customary fishers, if properly managed, are not a threat to fishing stocks.

Dramatically restricting access to recreational fishers, when commercial fishing is the target of marine reserves, is too heavy-handed.

We believe that there needs to be more local participation in decision-making over these matters to ensure that the public, and in particular those with a vested interest, are involved in the setting of catch limits, environmental controls and management strategies.

A long term approach to maintaining a sustainable level of fish stocks and the recognition of the right of all New Zealanders to fish must take precedence over excessive money grabbing by the commercial fishing industry. New Zealand First would like to see all stakeholders concerned with our marine life able to participate in the development of a more innovative and long sighted marine park concept.

This summer, while New Zealanders relish all the great fishing spots around the country, I want to assure them that New Zealand First is working hard to make sure that this opportunity isn't jeopardised in the future. We must also remember that we are all personally responsible for making sure that we take only what is presently permitted in order to ensure the sustainability of the resource for future generations of kiwis.

Pita Paraone MP