The Department of Conservation says it will look at changing a Bill which whitebaiters fear will lock them out of West Coast rivers.
The problem with the Conservation (Indigenous Freshwater Fish) Amendment Bill is a section which says people must not take indigenous freshwater fish from a conservation area without authorisation.
For example, as the bed of the Hokitika River is conservation land, whitebaiters could be locked out.
Doc senior policy manager Paula Warren said if the Bill went through, an authorisation would need to be issued.
"The department will propose to the select committee that changes be made to ensure that generic authorisations permissions to whitebait in conservation areas can be issued so individual fishers don’t need to apply.
"The issue will be addressed before the Bill comes into force, so there will be no restrictions on whitebaiting in those areas next season as a result of the Bill."
Dr John Herbert, a forest ecologist who fishes on the Hokitika River, last week urged West Coast whitebaiters to make submissions before they closed on Thursday.
He had spoken to fellow whitebaiters and was concerned they were unaware of the legislation.
"There would be a blanket ban unless specifically authorised."
The implication could be a licence system.
"It’s a half-baked Bill. I’m concerned not enough people know about it."
His family had been trout fishing for five generations, but that could also be affected, Dr Herbert said. The Bill would give Doc the right to remove trout and salmon from rivers, he said.
It would also "disenfranchise" Fish and Game, which had been looking after the trout fishery for 100 years, previously as the acclimatisation society.
Fish and Game West Coast manager Dean Kelly said it agreed with the aim of the Bill, to provide better protection for indigenous fish such as galaxiids, whitebait, eels, bullies, torrent fish, mudfish and other species.
However, it also posed a serious threat to freshwater angling.
"Fish and Game do not support the Bill’s attempt to undermine the legitimacy of the recreational resource that trout and salmon provide in New Zealand," Mr Kelly said.
The Bill could result in trout becoming part of Treaty of Waitangi settlements with iwi. It would also open the possibility of allowing the commercialisation of trout, which was prohibited at present.
Trout and salmon provided economic, cultural and health benefits, more than 100,000 freshwater licence holders taking part in freshwater angling every year.Fish and Game, as the angler-governed statutory manager of sports fisheries, was not consulted on the Bill, Mr Kelly said.
"It is vital anglers make their feelings known about this disregard for their pastime. To get involved anglers are encouraged to view the resources on Fish and Game’s website."
The West Coast Whitebaiters Association has been encouraging people to make submissions on the Bill.
The Bill aims to enable the Minister of Conservation to review and improve regulations on fish passage, and develop regulations to address threats such as damage to fish spawning sites and fish being killed by activities such as drainage works and pump stations.
- Laura Mills
