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editorial Ministry suffers with foot in mouth P roposals by the Ministry for Primary Industries to slash snapper bag limits in SNA1 have upset recreational fishers who have rallied together at meetings across New Zealand. In one of the most blatant Governmental examples of robbing the poor to pay the rich corporates, the recently released Initial Position Paper, proposal on SNA1 is all about taking food out of the mouths of amateur fishers who rely on the sea to feed their families. To further add insult, the discussion paper released in July 2013 with submissions closing on August 23 offers very little time for recreational fisheries advocates to even consult with their constituents, never mind preparing an informed submission. Clearly, snapper is one of our fisheries' highest valued finfish and one most prized by amateur fishers. Auckland's Hauraki Gulf is recognised as a snapper fishery with all other species making up a bycatch. Auckland is also home to 1.5 million New Zealanders, including many "new" New Zealanders, ranging from the lowest socio-economic to the richest. It is the large portion of people in the low income areas that turn to the sea to feed their families. A recent survey conducted by the University of Auckland on behalf of recreational fishers has revealed that 26 percent of all New Zealanders over the age of 18 years go fishing three or more times a year, the average being five times. Over 74 percent said that fishing for food was important, while less than eight percent fished for sport. Ministry figures suggest that the average recreational catch for snapper in the north is 2.6 snapper each. This average allows for the good fishers who take an occasional bag limit to the many fishers who return empty handed. And yet overall, snapper stocks are reported to be rebuilding and generally commercial and recreational catch rates have increased. Except in the Bay of Plenty, where that part of the stock is considered "collapsed", at just six percent of its original biomass. Now, you can't blame the BOP people for the decline in fish. Management proposals released by the Ministry outline three options for New Zealand's largest recreational SNA1 fishery spanning the Bay of Plenty, Hauraki Gulf and East Northland. They propose to cut individual daily bag limits by two thirds, from nine to three, and leave commercial quota unchanged. The problem is of the Ministry's doing – when they originally allocated the SNA1 Total Allowable Catch – in that they and commercial kept talking down the recreational catch to enable a greater allocation to commercial in the Total Allowable Commercial Catch. Way back then, recreational representatives Bob Burstall, Paul Barnes and myself argued that they were underestimating the amateur take by some 1,900 to 2,200 tonnes, only to lose the argument because the Ministry would not accept anecdotal evidence, placing their trust in industry science. How wrong they have been proven to be. The options offered – all aimed at reducing the amateur catch – reducing the bag limit to upping the Minimum Legal Size www.skipper.co.nz from 27cm to either 30cm or 35cm. Now, if we look at the last season's average catch landings on Auckland's boat ramps, an increase to 30cm will remove 60 percent of the take home fish for amateur fishers. Increase this to 35cm and the numbers leap to 80 percent of the take home catch going over the side alive or probably dead. Reduce the bag to three or even five and highgrading will become rife amongst amateur fishers as they will try to catch three large snapper when up to nine smaller ones would have stopped them fishing for the day. This is a rule that will introduce high-grading and dumping of recreational caught fish at a level never before envisaged. If the Ministry thinks the fishery is in trouble now, then encourage 1.4 million fishers to start dumping and see how long it takes to collapse a fishery. Meanwhile, in speaking with some respected commercial fishers they advise that the Ministry data must be wrong. There is a heap of snapper out there. "We struggle to get away from snapper." I am also advised that if you do not have a balanced quota portfolio covering all species when you leave the wharf, the fisher will end up dumping or paying high-deemed value penalties. Once again, a system designed to prevent fishermen from catching species for which they do not hold quota is killing the fishery. Problem is, the high Ministry deemed values are driving the ACE prices up and the fishermen find they are in a no-win situation, leaving nightdumping of prime fish as the only option. Yes, it is happening. Fishermen are telling me that when fishing alongside other vessels in the same waters doing similar tows, they question why, when they are catching 60 percent snapper, the other vessel is only landing 15 percent of the catch as snapper. Interesting! Then in a letter dated August 7, the Ministry announces a second IPP giving two weeks notice for submissions affecting all charter boats and catch reporting. Minister, your Ministry appears to be totally dysfunctional when they dump the charter boat IPP on top of the SNA1 IPP with submissions closing August 23. Ministry man, thank you for hearing my plea for reason. I can now advise our readers that the new date for submissions is September 6 this year. Yes Minister, we still need better information, but the word on the waterfront is; if this is what you get when you try to give you better information and it is used against the very people who are giving it, how can anyone trust you now? Minister, attack the rights of the people to feed their families at your peril. It is now time to pull foot out of mouth. Keith Ingram, Editor September/October 2013 Professional Skipper 1