Review lakes during duck shooting - Dunne

United Future leader Peter Dunne is calling for a review of the environmental impact of duck shooting on the Pencarrow Lakes.

It follows a decision by the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust to ban shooting at lakes Kohangatera and Kohangapiripiri near Eastbourne, for environmental reasons.

Mr Dunne suggested yesterday that the trust allow duck shooters to continue shooting during the May 1-to-June 27, 2010 season while the investigation was done.

"Presently we have a situation where one side claims duck shooting is having a significant adverse environmental impact on the lakes, including the risk from didymo, while the other side is adamant such impacts are negligible," Mr Dunne said.

He described the trust's claim that there was a risk from didymo as quite bizarre. "The conditions didymo requires to spread and survive just do not exist in the Pencarrow Lakes. Such an argument, if carried to its extreme, would preclude the whole of the North Island from any freshwater recreational activities."

Fish & Game chief executive Bryce Johnson supports the review call. "Peter Dunne's suggestion is sensible, fair and will result in a robust solution," he said.

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