Professional Skipper Magazine from VIP Publications

LE T T E RS Letters to the editor are encouraged from readers who wish to say nice things, raise an industry concern, or even get something off their chest. Letters are published in good faith and may be abridged if too verbose or on the edge of being libellous. In fact, in 15 years we have only refused to publish two letters. For this reason, while we will protect an author���s identity if requested by ���name withheld on request���, letters must be clearly marked by name and address, signed or emailed as verification of authenticity. Letters not clearly signed may not see the light of day. WRITER���S CRITIC Dear Sir Not you, Ed! Your editorial said what needed to be said. After Maritime NZ���s recent ���fit and proper persons��� purge, there are several spouses/partners of fishermen now in the firing line, having taken over responsibilities for the safe and proper operation of the vessels their men are working. Some may be doing so in name only, but, in line with company directors in other fields, they carry the can when things go wrong. Easy Rider may be merely the first of such cases. Your critic, Mac Chaplin, exemplifies ���sloppy English, sloppy thinking���. Incorrect assertions and four bad sentence constructions totally undermine his over-wrought letter. The Chatham Islands Enterprise Trust displayed similar failings in dealings with South East Shipping, confusing licensee with licensor and misusing ���craneage��� (charges for crane use, not the services of a crane). Minor points perhaps, but when legal action starts and the lawyers go through what was written and sent in the heat of the moment, ill-chosen words can become expensive. Lloyd���s Register NZ Country Manager Bruce Maroc, with his elegantly-worded response on MV Jaguar, does slightly better, culminating in a rousing, feel-good policy statement. However, as a simple seaman I find it hard to understand how a well-found ship, as certified by Lloyds (my article was erroneously edited to say ���inferring��� ��� a wrong word for two reasons), can suffer extensive corrosion to the point of steel plating being perforated in a matter of a few weeks, to cite just one example among many. How could the crew have caused that? He quotes words from my article, calling them incorrect. His words could be construed to mean that Lloyds actually did detect the serious faults cited ��� before certifying the vessel as seaworthy. Other assertions by Mr Maroc appear dubious. Did Maritime NZ actually investigate Black Robin���s complaint? The decision to scrap was made by the Receivers, not Mr Leslie (by the way, he is a businessman, not a seaman or engineer, so is totally dependent on the skills of surveyors such as Lloyd���s). I have read the Marine Superintendant���s report, with its appalling photographs. It is written in correct, grammatical, terminologically correct English, an indication that it contains reliable information of similar standard. R Lea Clough, Napier MARLIN HYPOCRISY Dear Sir Re: Alain Jorion���s letter in issue 91. I thank Mr Jorion for touching on the subject of commercially caught marlin. The general public have no idea that the commercial moratorium on marlin is in place only to make it easier for recreational fishers to get their buzz catching and torturing marlin, and to ensure that charter boat operators can forever give their punters the same dubious thrill. Mr Jorion refers to 51 marlin that were caught outside the EEZ. These fish were legally caught and sold and as far as I���m aware, no one was forced to buy any, so I have no idea what the problem is unless of course he believes that all marlin in and outside of New Zealand waters are there only to give recreational fishers a thrill and should never be available for public consumption. I wonder how you get arrogant enough to have an opinion that the New Zealand public shouldn���t have the choice to buy and eat a fish that the rest of the world utilise. By law, commercial fishers have to return marlin to the sea dead or alive, no matter where they are caught in New Zealand waters. This is an appalling waste and when the fish are returned dead it���s just plain stupid. The commercial moratorium on marlin needs to be seriously reconsidered and recreational fishers and charter operators need to have a good look at the way they treat billfish and tuna. To continually catch and release these fish solely for their own thrill, benefit, and bragging rights, is pathetic. And because not all billfish and tuna survive being released after hours of fighting for their life it is a disgusting waste and an insult to nature. They should be required to land and utilise ALL the legal size fish they catch. If the fish can���t be eaten or the fisher can���t be stuffed cleaning and taking the fish home, then why on earth catch it? SUBSCRIBE NOW! by mail Be sure to get your copy of Professional Skipper direct Name _______________________________________________________________________ Address______________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Postal code ________ Email _______________________________________________________________________ ENCLOSED IS A CHEQUE FOR ______________________________________________________ year $65.00 1 year ������ includes NZ Workboat Review Please ($98 Australia + Asia, $135 Rest of World) ��� $65.00 1NZ Workboat Review 2014 Review 2009 &include NZ Workboat Review 2013 @ $11.50 available now ��� 2009 2010 $125 2 years ��� includes NZ Workboat includes ��� Please include NZ Workboat Review 2012 @ $10.00 each ($105 include NZ Workboat Review for 2007 @ $10.50 now PleaseAustralia + Asia, $145 Rest of World) $10.50 available available now Please include NZ Workboat Review 2008 @Please include NZ Workboat Review 2010 & 2011 @ $5.00 each $125.00 2 year ��� ���Please include���NZ Workboat Review 2007for 2006 @ $5.00 now Workboat Please include NZ Review 2013 &Review @ $5.00 available available now includes NZ Workboat 2014 ��� Please include NZ Workboat Review 2008 & 2009 @ $2.50 each Visa/Mastercard (other cards not accepted) Card Number _______________________________________ Card Name ___________________________________________________________________ Signature _________________________________________________ Expiry date _____/_____ GST No: 68-684-757 Congratulations to Lauie Soffe of Auckland, winner of the oil painting of the NZ barque Louisa Craig by marine artist Paul Deacon with an artist value of $1000. www.marineartgallery.net.nz March/April 2013 Professional Skipper 3

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