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Customary and recreational fishers are pushing for action to increase the biomass of snapper and rock lobster in northern waters.
A meeting of the Hokianga Accord, the mid-north customary fisheries forum, has backed a Sport Fishing Council proposal to oppose any increase in the total allowable commercial catch in the snapper one quota area.
It also calls for changes on catch methods to stop killing of juveniles, fish dumping and other wasteful practices.
Spokesperson Scott Macindoe says it's time for long term thinking.
“We’re determined to double the biomass, double the population and double the amount of fish in the water. That’s what it’s all about. Abundance is the key and what we seek to do is take this fishery conversation away from constant harvest focus, see how can we extract more to how can we leave fish in the water and rebuild these fisheries,” he says.
Scott Macindoe says the snapper and rock lobster fisheries have been so badly managed there is little left for recreational fishers on many parts of the coast.
Copyright © 2013, Uma Broadcasting Ltd
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