Fishermen's co-op no longer backing mataitai

A commercial fishermen's co-operative has withdrawn any support from the proposed Otago Harbour fishing reserve (mataitai), saying the decision to include the whole harbour has been "lost in translation".

A member of the Port Chalmers Fishermen's Co-operative was involved in discussions with community stakeholders over widening the reserve to include the whole harbour.

"It appears something was lost in translation because we do not support a mataitai covering the entire harbour," said president Steve Little.

Initially, the reserve area was to be for a smaller area in front of the Otakou marae, but a decision was reached to include the whole harbour, with several exclusion areas for port activities.

The co-operative, which represents 26 commercial fishermen from Timaru to Bluff, believes a mataitai is not "in the best interest of the whole harbour".

"But we support a sustainable fishery," he said.

Despite no commercial fishing activities taking place in Otago Harbour for "30 or 40 years", Mr Little said the co-operative supported commercial fishing of cockles from the harbour.

Southern Clams, which is represented in the co-operative, had applied to the Ministry of Fisheries for a special permit to investigate cockle harvesting in the harbour.

That application may be in jeopardy because a reserve excludes commercial fishing from its area, although it can be permitted.

"Southern Clams are actively trying to open up an opportunity. It is a nonsense to close it [the proposed reserve] off to prevent all those opportunities and jobs," Mr Little said.

Te Runanga o Otakou project manager Hoani Langsbury said he was surprised to hear of the co-operative's change of direction.

"We spoke to the co-op' and they were happy with the proposal."

Mr Langsbury said the runanga was waiting to hear from the Ministry of Fisheries regarding the application, before it was publicly notified.