March 23, 2016
Imposing fish reserves bad idea
Maori concern over the Government’s policy of imposing new marine reserves which erode treaty settlement fishing rights have been bolstered by a critical report from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Jan Wright.
Te Ohu Kaimoana with the backing of several major iwi is taking the crown to court over the creation of the 520,0000 square kilometre Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary, which will block Maori access to the potentially lucrative tuna fishery as well as to quota species in the area.
Similar action could be likely against the the proposal to create Recreational fishing parks in the Hauraki Gulf and Marlborough Sounds.
In a submission on the proposed Marine Protected Areas Bill, Dr Wright says if the policy is about catching fish rather than managing the marine environment, it should come under the Fisheries Act rather than the new bill.
She says reserves are a good idea, but the way to make progress is to get the stakeholders around the table, including iwi, recreational users, and those with commercial interests.
Recreational fishing parks are more likely to be successful and to integrate better with other marine protected areas if designed in a collaborative way, rather than by the stroke of a pen in an Act of parliament.
She also wants the policy to cover the exclusive economic zone.
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