Change worries recreational fishers

Recreational fishing groups are concerned a proposed restructuring of the Ministry of Fisheries could mean they have less input in the management of fish resources in the top of the south.

The ministry announced last week it was putting out for consultation a proposal to cut 29 management positions nationwide, including about eight in Nelson.

It was looking to take a more centralised approach to its operations by focusing management positions in Auckland and Wellington.

Martyn Barlow, president of Nelson recreational fishers association Tasfish, said with fewer ministry managers working out of Nelson, anglers might lose the chance to have meaningful consultation on local issues.

"We've been through the recreational forums for the fish plan group, and over quite a period of time we've managed to build up some working relationships with people in the ministry so we can be involved in the process and have input in what decisions are made.

"If they're going to look at it now at a national level and reduce the inshore team, what does that mean for those groups that amateurs have been participating in for a number of years now?"

He was worried decisions that were made in Wellington would be foisted on them, rather than after consultation through forums such as the Top of the South Island Recreational Fishing Forum and the Challenger Inshore Fin Fish Plan Advisory Group.

"There's been an acknowledgement by the ministry for some time, and by the wider community and other stakeholders, that smaller micro-management needs to be the way to go forward."

New Zealand Recreational Fishing Council president Geoff Rowling, who lives in Mariri, said the ministry had improved its consultation processes in recent years.

In the past there had been a "piecemeal" approach to participation.

"Just when we were making some progress in expanding the base of knowledge and capabilities within amateur fishing to participate in processes, we're very concerned that may be taken away."

Mr Rowling said working with local managers was also useful for recreational groups who often had limited funds.

They often could not afford to send volunteers to Wellington or Auckland, as opposed to commercial or Maori interests who had people in those centres.

He said a recent example of recreational fishing interests and the ministry working together was the setting up of the Marlborough Sounds Blue Cod Management Group, which was working towards developing a management plan to rebuild the fishery.

MFish chief executive Wayne McNee said the ministry was committed to consulting with recreational groups. "My expectation is that we would continue to have those types of groups, but they would be more focused around getting input into proposals, and have a less extended process.

"Some of the fisheries plans, for example, have had up to 17 all-day meetings as part of the development process. Our aim is to shorten that and get the plans in place more quickly."

A team based in Wellington would focus on regional fisheries, and would travel the country to meet local groups.

- © Fairfax NZ News