A: They are caught again and again, set after set, day after day. Q: Are there any shark stocks in or out of the New Zealand Quota Management System that are vulnerable? A: No. School shark and rig stocks are in great shape, blue, greeneye, spikey and carpet shark stocks are massive. These shark are pests. They always have been and always will be, but the fishing industry has done well to get some value from them where possible. Q: Was Danny's "shark cage" venture ever viable in Admiralty Bay where he is based? A: No. For Danny to suggest that fishermen have destroyed his successful shark business is totally false. He never had a successful shark cage business. I would love to see any proof otherwise.
Stu Morrison, Nelson PRUDENCE RECOMMENDED
Dear Sir To get more bangs for their bucks, many navies are evolving from single role ships to flexible platforms that can be fitted with various mission packages as circumstances require. In this regard the government's Defence Capability Plan includes provision for the diving support vessel HMNZS Manawanui and the hydrographic survey ship HMNZS Resolution to be replaced with a single Littoral Warfare Support Capability (LWCS). While it is proposed that that the new LWSC will be delivered in 2018, Resolution is to be decommissioned on April 27, 2012. During the past six months Manawanui and Resolution have been involved in two significant maritime incidents: the Rena disaster and the Easy Rider tragedy. This begs the questions as to how effectively the Navy will be able to respond to say simultaneous maritime incidents occurring in New Zealand waters and also in the wider South Pacific where New Zealand has defence commitments. When ships are needed, it is usually too late to build them. Until the LWSC is more than just a twinkle in the eyes of the Ministry of Defence, logic suggests that it would be prudent to retain Resolution in reserve. In the event of a worst-case scenario, the ship could then be recommissioned to provide support/ assistance as needed.
Six years is a long time for the Navy to operate with a significantly reduced littoral support capability. Based on the adage that if anything can go wrong it invariably will, (and at the worst possible time), some circumspection regarding the disposal of Resolution should receive serious consideration. Murray Dear, Hamilton
PULL UP! Dear Sir
Modern passenger aircraft have warnings of impending disaster if flying into a mountain side. "Whoop whoop pull up, whoop whoop pull up," reverberates in the cockpit. Not exactly rocket science. Why not a similar system on vessels like the Rena activated by GPS? "You are headed onto Astrolabe Reef, change course now, change course now. Whoop, whoop, change course now." Dozens of New Zealand computer whizz kids could design such a system on their ear.
There are over 365 collisions in the world every year. Vessels hit other vessels, cliffs and reefs – they even hit lighthouses! What is wrong with navigation systems for ocean going vessels?
I say everything is wrong. Lynton Diggle, Auckland May/June 2012 Professional Skipper 7
for Frontier, Jubilee & Legacy
VIP.S87
