Mist rises over the coast between Warrington and Karitane,
north of Dunedin. Photo by Getty Images.
Concern about fishing pressures off the coast of Karitane
has led a local fishing group to propose smaller bag limits and
tighter restrictions on total quantities of seafood being taken
from the area.
The East Otago Taiapure management committee has put up the
proposed changes to the fishing rules for the area (from
Purakaunui to Waikouaiti) for consultation through the
Ministry of Fisheries.
However, a recreational fishing advocate says the bag cuts
are "harsh", given there is no restriction on what commercial
fishermen can take in the same area.
A taiapure is a management tool established in an area
customarily of special significance to an iwi or hapü as a
source of food, or for spiritual or cultural reasons.
The East Otago committee, set up in 1999, is made up of
representatives from the East Otago Boating Club, Kati
Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki, Karitane Commercial Fisherman's
co-operative, Rivercare-Estuary Care: Waikouaiti-Karitane and
the University of Otago.
Committee chairman Brendan Flack said as early as 1992 there
were concerns about the sustainability of fisheries in the
area, but the taiapure now had the science from the
university to prove certain species were under threat.
"Many of the fishing regulations were set 30 years ago and
don't really reflect today's fishing pressures."
It was not a matter of stopping people from fishing, but
"ensuring our grandchildren can do what we do", Mr Flack
said.
It proposed cutting the daily bag limit of paua, kina and
combined finfish by at least half, setting a maximum daily
limit of 50 shellfish, prohibiting the commercial take of
cockles outside specified areas in Waitati Inlet and
temporarily prohibiting taking paua from Huriawa Peninsula.
Preconsultation on the proposals had shown some believed the
original bag limits, such as 30 finfish a day, were too
generous, he said.
The proposal to restrict commercial cockle takes would not
impact on Southern Clams' work in the area, but would protect
other areas from other commercial endeavours.
Recreational fishing advocate Warren Lewis said a 66% cut in
the finfish bag limit and a 50% cut in paua without any
attempt to control the commercial take in the area was
"fairly draconian".
"It's another large area of inshore fishery where
recreational fishers are going to be restricted from a taking
a fair and reasonable bag."
Following public consultation, the minister of fisheries will
consider the proposals and make a decision on whether the
changes should go ahead.
The proposals then need to be approved by Cabinet and if they
are, will take effect on October 1.
Members of the public have until April 24 to make submissions
to the Ministry of Fisheries.
Proposed changes
• Reduce the recreational daily bag limit of paua from 10 to
5.
• Reduce the recreational daily bag limit of kina from 50 to
10.
• Set a maximum combined daily limit of 50 shellfish of all
kinds including pipi, cockles, mussels, kina and rock lobster
(crayfish).
• Reduce the maximum combined finfish daily bag limit from 30
to 10 within the southern part of the taiapure.
• Prohibit the commercial take of cockles outside specified
areas within Waitati Inlet.
• Prohibit the taking of paua from Huriawa Peninsula for two
years
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