The only specialised marine publication in Oceania that focuses on the maritime industry, from super yachts to small craft to large commercial ships, including coastal shipping, tugs, tow boats, barges, ferries, tourist, sport-fishing craft
Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/48969
fishers to undertake fisher education as a pre-requisite to purchasing a licence. Switzerland's strongly interventionist approach is probably the strictest regime in the world and was largely driven by animal rights activists. In terms of meeting the challenges, New South Wales is probably furtherest down the path, with plenty of countries vying for the position of being behind the starting line. One example would be Norway, which has taken a sideways path, focusing attention on marine tourist fishing and not addressing recreational fishing by Norwegian residents. Many European countries are struggling with the weight of influence the commercial fishing industry brings to bear upon fisheries management decisions. Across the United States of America, the various states are struggling to deliver the federal requirement to set catch limits. This has driven a rush to consider fixed shares, which removes the adaptation and flexibility that is so crucial to fisheries management. The variety of regimes demonstrated that a licence per se is not the make or break of a successful recreational fishing system. It is the characteristics and context with which a funding mechanism, such as a licence, is used that are important. Key characteristics that need to be present for a successful regime appear to be: • implement a simple system (ie, minimise exemptions and detail) • ensure fishers understand the need for revenue collection • ensure fishers value the benefit gained from using the revenue • direct revenue to fishing purposes, not into a consolidated fund or on administration, and • make sure the cost of the licence appears fair and reasonable to the fishers. New Zealand can learn from all of these experiences. Simply following another country's fisheries management model is not the answer, but learning from them all is. As the statistician George Box said in 1979: "All models are wrong, but some are useful." Speakers at the conference suggested various approaches to solve the challenges. One focus is to manage the system, not just focus on the resource or the people. There is a need to merge the social and ecological aspects and work with the dynamic system. Of course, you need to be fully equipped with good information and effective communication between parties to take this approach. Having parity between the various parties will better serve the necessary collaborative efforts to deal with a system approach. Most of those at the conference understood there is no quick solution to ensuring recreational fishing and fisheries are well managed for resilience and sustainability. Rather, it is a journey best served by clear goals, with value given to all parts of the system, robust data collection and excellent communication governing all collaborative human interactions. New Zealand has made a fantastic start with our well- established quota management system, yet it is time to make it work for recreational fishers and to deliver abundant fisheries for this and future generations. By enabling a lean and effective infrastructure for recreational fisheries that is designed and run by recreational fishers, our QMS could truly live up to its oft-repeated claim to be, "among the best in the world." Miranda O'Connell is a committee member of the New Zealand Recreational Fishing Council. She attended the World Recreational Fishing Conference in Berlin with assistance from Professional Skipper magazine. See your nearest dealer for details Ph: 0800 865 769 www.volvopenta.co.nz VIP.WB11 CREW VOLUNTEERS WANTED Help keep the call of the by-gone era of steam alive. We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers, men and women, to join our crew so the old hands may pass the skills of yesteryear to the next generation of guardians of our heritage steam tug William C Daldy. No experience necessary. Are you interested in working boilers, steam engines or just being on deck to learn new skills or refresh the old, be it steam, engineering or seamanship? Do you enjoy making new friends and the camaraderie of the sea? If you answer yes, then please contact: Alex Franklin, 027 568 8623 or Bevan Tinker, 021 801 402 www.daldy.com Compact Quiet Fuel More powerful Now a complete range of fully electronic diesels with minimum vibration, exceptionally low sound and low exhaust emissions. Commercial range up to 800hp. Heavy duty rating. Commercial IPS Systems available. NZ's top selling marine diesel and most comprehensive dealer network. November/December 2011 Professional Skipper 31 VIP.S84