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MINISTRY OF FISHERIES WAIKATO-TAINUI TAKE ON JOINT FISHERY MANAGEMENT A new era in fisheries management started on September 22 when the government and iwi took over joint management of fish stocks in the lower Waikato River. The regulations enact the fisheries agreements of the Waikato- Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Act 2010. "The regulations enable Waikato-Tainui to manage non- commercial customary fishing on the lower Waikato River," MAF Director-General Wayne McNee said. The trustees of the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu River Trust and appointed kaitiaki (customary fishing authorisers) will be able to issue customary fishing authorisations. Under the regulations, the trust can also recommend bylaws that may restrict fishing on the lower Waikato River to ensure long-term sustainability of fish stocks or for cultural reasons. "Otherwise commercial and recreational fishing can continue undisturbed on the Waikato River," McNee said. The regulations apply to the river from Karapiro to the river mouth, including the tributaries, streams and watercourses that flow into that part of the river; and the lakes, wetlands and banks of water bodies along the way. The key fishery in the lower Waikato River is freshwater eels. Commercial fishers fish out of Port Waikato for species such as mullet and flatfish. Port Waikato is also a popular recreational fishing area. MORE SPECIES FALL INTO REPORTING UMBRELLA From October 1, charter vessel operators working in the fishing zone FMA1 must report their catches of hapuku, bass, kingfish and southern and Pacific bluefin tuna. The zone extends from Cape Reinga down the eastern coast of the North Island almost to East Cape. The ruling is part of the new amateur charter vessel activity catch return scheme introduced from October 1. This system is designed to help MAF form a complete picture of charter fishing activity at a local level. The data is designed so operators can collect it with the minimum of fuss. It will allow Fisheries' management to make decisions based on more complete information, taking into account the interests of charter vessel operators and amateur fishers. GILL-NETTER QUITS FISHING AFTER PROTEST A foreign vessel flying a Curacao flag which was spotted fishing illegally north of New Zealand left the area following cooperation between the two governments. The crew on a New Zealand surveillance flight in June twice spotted the Millennium beyond the exclusive economic zone catching deepwater sharks with gill nets. The nets were banned The catch on board and the hauling of the gill net is clearly visible on the Millennium in this image in the area from February 2010 during negotiations to establish the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation, in which New Zealand actively participates. The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade wrote to the Curacao Ministry of Economic Development, which promptly directed the Millennium to stop fishing in the EEZ, said the SPRFMO manager international, Jane Willing. Curacao is a Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela. "This duly happened and the vessel has left the Pacific." Willing said this was another example of inter-agency cooperation leading to a good result. "It is particularly pleasing to see this happening when SPRFMO is still in its infancy." KOREAN VESSEL FREE TO LEAVE The Korean fishing vessel Oyang 75 left Lyttelton on October 13 after spending over three months in port following an investigation by the Ministry of Fisheries over serious offences. (See Professional Skipper issue 84.) "To protect the government's interest, MFish has allowed the vessel to leave New Zealand after the owners of the Oyang 75, Sajo Oyang Corporation of Korea, agreed to a bond over the vessel and other security held by the ministry," said deputy director-general Andrew Coleman. The charges against the Oyang 75 included allegedly discarding fish. The New Zealand quota management system requires commercial fishers to land QMS fish caught to a New Zealand licensed fish receiver. Failure to land and report fish undermined the QMS and could lead to overfishing, Coleman said. Five of the Oyang 75's Korean officers, including the captain, face 26 charges. The first hearing date was in the Christchurch District Court on November 17. SUMMER EDUCATION PROGRAMME LAUNCHED Two free smartphone services with information on fishing rules are a focal point of MAF's public summer awareness campaign, Four Million Guardians. The fishing rules app was one of the government's first uses of smartphone technology to deliver information in a convenient way to consumers, MAF director-general Wayne McNee said at the launch of the campaign on October 15. The Millennium, taken on June 13 64 Professional Skipper January/February 2012 The second new service enables anyone with a standard mobile phone to text any one of 150 species to 9889 and receive a return text detailing the relevant rules for that species. The applications can be downloaded from Apple's online store or the Android market. It notes the user's location through GPS and links them to a range of information, including fishing rules. Fishers can also view embedded video clips and register to receive updates. There are no charges for texts. MAF's compliance and response team worked with the Christchurch