Wanted: A fair go for all fishermen

There’s nothing quite like motoring out into the bay, throwing a line overboard and hauling in a few fresh fish. It’s fairly standard Kiwi recreation, however some recreational fishermen hold the view that such activity is not only traditional but also spiritual and an indigenous right to be undertaken at will.

A number are scathing in their criticism of commercial operators, some go much further with actions bordering on theft and wilful damage.

While criticism of trawlers and purse seiners scooping everything from the seabed and above may be well founded, there are smaller operators working well within their rights to earn a living from the sea but are being targeted maliciously for no apparent reason.

A year or so ago new regulations for recreational fishers changed the size and catch limits of fish and shellfish. This was not to restrict but primarily to preserve sustainability. Collectively recreational fishers take large numbers of fish and shellfish from our waters and, except for a few cases, without any accountability, whereas commercial fishermen, regardless of the size of operation, are scrutinised every step of the way.

There may be exceptions to these rules and they are often exploited as was evidenced by recent cases of paua and mussels well in excess of what the law allows both in number and size and those involved punished only with community service.

One local cray fisherman feels he is being unfairly targeted by vandals who feel their own area is being invaded. He works a small operation with just one other crew member. Working from Leigh, his lease covers the east coast to Whangarei Heads and out to the Chicks. A third generation fisherman, he says there has always been a degree of ‘pilfering’ but the last year the destruction of markers and cutting of ropes to cray pots has threatened to put him out of business completely – not a good situation for a young man with a young family and a mortgage to carry.

“It’s one thing to have pots hauled up and the crays stolen but people don’t realise the damage they are doing by cutting ropes,” he says. “Metal pots don’t deteriorate like the old wooden ones used to. That debris is left on the seabed and those pots still keep fishing. Crays unable to get out eventually die, snapper and reef fish get in and eat the crays, octopus also get in and eat trapped fish so those responsible are not achieving anything. Unless I can provide photographic evidence the police and fisheries inspectors are not interested.”

Quotas are held by the big companies. Commercial operators are charged for quota plus percentage of the value of the catch – similar to ongoing franchise fees. The cray fisherman I

spoke to cited the case of a recent fishing competition where there were 25 boats in an area where only the odd boat is ever sighted.

“Admittedly this is at competition time, but with two to five rods per boat there are being far more fish caught than I would ever catch with nothing having to be recorded. I have to put in returns, my catch is legally checked and documented every step of the way. Awareness in sustainability is foremost because that’s protecting our livelihoods. Recreational fishers have little or no accountability and policing is spasmodic at best. I should be off the water by now. The cray season normally runs from July to December but because of the thefts and vandalism I’m still trying to meet my quota.”

We also spoke to another long-time cray fisherman whose quota was much larger but who has been forced out of business by the loss of thousands of dollars worth of catch and equipment.

“The problem has certainly escalated over the past two to three years,” he said.

The answer? Public awareness and tolerance they both say. There is enough out there for everyone if they just play by the rules and give everyone else a fair go.

- BY ROB POOLEY