Losing track of an important debate

If keen recreational whitebaiter and Southland Fish & Game councillor Ken Cochrane had valid points to make about the national Whitebaiting Working Group process, they got lost in the noise over his remarks about "chick scientists".

Mr Cochrane was one of the 18 members of the WWG brought together in 2018 to identify issues and management options for the future of the whitebait fishery. The group included representatives from matauranga Maori, commercial and recreational fishing, habitat restoration, fisheries and species management, and freshwater policy and ecology.

As an advisory body, the group was not expected to reach consensus. Under its terms of reference, the Department of Conservation would control publicity and group members were not to make public statements on the group or its work, although they could identify themselves as group members.

Mr Cochrane told a Southland Recreational Whitebaiters Association meeting attended by 200 people he considered the group was biased by Doc freshwater scientists.

"I sat there on day one and I thought I’m listening to a whole bunch of chick scientists who, if you look at the view they were pitching, everybody in New Zealand should not shave their armpits ... should whitebait in their jandals ... after they catch one patty for tea they should sit down, hold hands and sing ‘Kumbaya’."

It is difficult to make any sense of this pronouncement. Would Mr Cochrane’s world be a better place if all scientists were men, with hairy chests and beer guts, giving scant regard to the facts around whitebait numbers, but promoting everybody living permanently in thigh waders, high-fiving each other as they knocked back an endless supply of whitebait patties, singing We are the Champions?

Some consider it is unfair so much attention has been focused on Mr Cochrane’s comments, but it was he who scored the own goal.

In any argument, if you resort to denigrating those you do not agree with, it creates suspicion about the worth of your own view.

The uncomfortable thing about science is that sometimes it tells you things you might not want to hear, something that will become commonplace as the world faces the effects of climate change and we are confronted with changing our behaviour. In these circumstances, will absurd utterances like Mr Cochrane’s become the norm?

It is understandable feelings run high about whitebaiting; a part of New Zealand life held dear by many. But the sad fact is that the free-for-all which has been allowed cannot go on, since four of the six whitebait species are classed as at risk or threatened.

It was impressive to see Southland Fish & Game chairman Graeme Watson speak out so strongly against the views expressed by Mr Cochrane, describing them as patronising and sexist and not representative of the organisation. The council has passed a vote of no-confidence in Mr Cochrane and called for his resignation.

We have noted that only two of the 137 councillors for Fish & Game around the country are women, both in the South Island. The council acknowledges this needs to be improved quickly and is seeking ideas on how to foster greater involvement by women.

That is encouraging, but what has been disheartening about Mr Cochrane’s outburst is the resignation with which it has been received by some women scientists.

Freshwater ecologist Stella McQueen was almost sighing when interviewed on TV1 about it. She said it was not remotely shocking people held views like Mr Cochrane’s, although they were not usually aired so openly.

The sad thing was that instead of talking about what was a really important review of whitebait regulations, and how best to change things for endangered whitebait, people were back to talking about sexism, she said.

For those who want to have their say on the proposed management changes for whitebait, submissions close on March 16.