Professional Skipper - Free Sample issue (July/Aug 2011)

WATERWAYS – Waterfront Business In brief… Call for major reform Participants at the Environmental Defence Society's Coastlines conference on June 1-2 strongly supported calls by the society for a major reform of the way New Zealand manages its oceans. The best way forward was to establish a Royal Commission on Oceans Governance, to investigate international best practice in oceans management and review New Zealand's legislative, regulatory and administrative arrangements. The chairman, Gary Taylor, said almost all of the 250 people at the conference supported the need for a "step-change" improvement in the way New Zealand managed its territorial sea, exclusive economic zone and extended continental shelf. "Marine spatial planning emerged as a useful new tool and there was strong endorsement for a pilot plan to be prepared for the Hauraki Gulf," Taylor said. Greenpeace calls for action against canned tuna New Zealand companies selling tinned tuna should start sourcing sustainable stocks and avoid fish caught using fish aggregation devices (FADs), says Greenpeace New Zealand. The brands in question are Sealord, John West, Greenseas and the "own brand" products Home Brand, Signature Range, Select and Pams. FADs, the main method of catching skipjack, the most common species used in canned tuna, involve using purse seine nets, which kill up to 10 times more bycatch than other methods, the organisation says. All but one of the United Kingdom's major canned tuna brands have committed to stopping the use of tuna caught with FADs. "There's been a real shift to pole and line fishing," says Greenpeace NZ's oceans campaigner, Karli Thomas. Purse seining also trapped endangered sharks and turtles that are then dumped back into the ocean, dead or dying. Kiwis deserve better standards to ensure the tuna they buy is sustainable," she said. David Welsh, marketing manager at Sealord, said the company was committed to sustainable fishing. Less than half the tuna from the western and central Pacific was caught using FADs. "In the area where our tuna is fished, there are more than two billion skipjack tuna and more than 380 million yellowfin," Welsh said. 46 Professional Skipper July/August 2011 r NEW WATERFRONT L h mouthwatering choice of places to dine when they stroll around the North Wharf in Wynyard Quarter when it opens in August. "North Wharf is the only north-facing wharf on the waterfront which will soon be available for Aucklanders to enjoy," says the chief executive of Waterfront Auckland, John Dalzell. "This area gets the sun all day and opens out to a new promenade on the water's edge. It will provide a new experience for Aucklanders and visitors alike." The names include Marvel Grill, iSushi, Yakitori Restaurant, Live Fish, The Conservatory, Peter Parkin, MacGregor Brothers Café, Urban Turban and I-Storm Gelato. "The mix of operators so far is exceptional," says Dalzell. "With the Rugby World Cup coming later this year and the revitalisation of the rest of the Jellicoe Street area, North Wharf will do a very busy trade." North Wharf retains the character of the working wharf and combines it with a new style of alfresco dining. Local architects Fearon Hay say the design of the new buildings was inspired by the area's industrial past and its exceptional location. The buildings have been set back from the wharf edge, creating a wide promenade where people can enjoy a lazy stroll, sit and have coffee or lunch, or watch the fishing boats unload their catch. By August the rest of the first stage of Wynyard Quarter's revitalisation will be largely complete. It will transform Jellicoe Street into a waterfront boulevard. When the Wynyard Crossing opens in August, pedestrians and cyclists will have a 100m link from the Auckland Viaduct to the Wynyard Quarter. "This link is a vital component in our waterfront design," says Dalzell. The Viaduct Events Centre is also progressing well, and the adjacent plaza will have seats, artworks and steps down to the water's edge. By the time the World Cup begins, Silo Park, a green, public open space at the western end of Jellicoe St, will also be open. Pedestrians can enjoy views out to the Harbour Bridge, watch the marine industry at work and explore the cement silos, while children will enjoy the playground. Electric trams will be back on the waterfront, initially on a circuit of Jellicoe, Halsey, Gaunt and Daldy Streets, with plans to eventually link to Britomart and Queens Wharf. DESTINATION FOR AUCKLAND SEAFOOD LOVERS WILL have a

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