June 15, 2015
Anglers fight Tuwharetoa trout plan
Fish and Game have secured a meeting with the Office of Treaty Settlements tomorrow to discuss Ngati Tuwharetoa’s plan to farm trout at a Taupo hatchery.
Chief executive Bryce Johnson says while his organisation is the primary manager of trout in New Zealand outside the Taupo catchment, it is concerned at the precedent.
"Well trout farming for example theres a risk that that would lead to the wish to import trout flesh from overseas. There's a risk of them wanting to import different genetic stock which could bring in disease. Trout farming itself obviously has an effluent issue which could get into the wild fishery. And also anglers want them to be kept as a recreational species. That's always the way they have been. Trout were brought to New Zealand by anglers for recreational angling," he says.
Mr Johnson says Ngati Tuwharetoa already has an arrangement with the Department of Conservation allowing for a customary take of trout.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com