or licensing outweighed any benefits, so is unlikely to progress in the near future. The costs of managing our fishery are picked up by us all on behalf of us all from tax.
Because commercial fishermen have appropriated a public property right for private gain, they also have to compensate the public, which they do by paying fees. The notion that recreational fishermen don't want to be in the QMS seems misguided, as they have always been in the system and allowances for their catches made within the limits. I agree entirely with the other sentiments expressed in the article. Had Treasury had their way, recreational fishermen would be licensed now, and it was a blessing in disguise that the orange roughy and hoki issue stopped Treasury from being the sole quota trader. Unfortunately, the "super profits" Treasury talked about now go to absentee owners and companies, who have changed from processors and exporters to quota traders. Yes, in its day the system was a world leader, but we made some irreversible mistakes, as you do with a prototype.
As the population increases and the rate is increasing, these public assets are under more pressure and will need more intense management to save them for New Zealanders and not sacrifice them for export or tourist dollars.
There is a saying that those who ignore the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them, and recreational freshwater trout and salmon fishing has its commercial operators appropriating a public property right for private gain free of charge. Marine charter operators do the same.
Recreational hunters at least have a Minister of Revenue, Peter Dunne, championing their cause, so let's hope the lessons of the QMS are well learnt and future generations of New Zealanders can enjoy the outdoors, like mine did.
Roger Bartlett, Coromandel FOREIGN CHARTERS
Dear Sir Your article on foreign charter vessels, or FCVs, makes interesting reading.
It makes me wonder when a crew is underpaid, tortured and treated like slaves, how they in turn treat the catch. It would not surprise me if they spewed, crapped and pissed on the fish down below. The product turned out by these rotten old dungers must be suspect. Freezer breakdowns and other mechanical problems must be an ongoing issue. The good news, though, is that Sealord made a profit of $20 million. If they were to send 20 more Princess Ashikas to the Southern Ocean, maybe they could make a $40 million profit. It boggles the mind.
After the guts of 50 years of commercial fishing I'm a bit disgusted by how low the industry has sunk.
Brian Cuthbert, RUST BUCKETS
Dear Sir Your coverage of the foreign charter rust buckets is both timely and required, for it is appalling that we have New Zealand companies condoning these activities. The bosses of such (vessels) should be made to put to sea with these men on these ships and we will soon see a change in their money-grabbing attitudes. As you say, the recent losses and the two more ship failings is only the tip of the iceberg (excuse the pun) with the likelihood of more loss of life to come.
One only hopes that the minister and the government will
read Professional Skipper and then realise that he must shut this practice down. Make the ships New Zealand-registered and
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