Fishing gets nod ahead of Akaroa reserve bid

A long-running battle to create a marine reserve in Akaroa Harbour has ended in failure.

The 14-year campaign came to an end on Friday, when Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson rejected the proposal on the grounds it would interfere with recreational fishing.

The reserve would have covered 530 hectares, or about 12 per cent of the harbour.

The decision was welcomed by fishermen, but criticised by conservationists.

Akaroa Harbour Recreational Fishers' Association vice-president Bob Meikle praised the decision.

"It is a good, sound decision. It is what we said should have happened all along," he said.

"It is the only area of water in the harbour that a small family group in a little runabout can go fishing in the prevailing northeasterly conditions.

"It is a sheltered place where they can go."

However, Wilkinson's decision was blasted by the group that filed the application.

Akaroa Harbour Marine Protection Society secretary Kathleen Reid said she was "absolutely blown away" by the decision.

"It's the most astoundingly shortsighted decision you could ever expect from a Minister of Conservation," she said.

Wilkinson's statement declining the application did not flesh out her reasons for turning down the proposal, Reid said.

There was not strong opposition from commercial fishermen, although local runanga opposed forming a marine reserve in the harbour.

She was worried similar applications in New Zealand could be turned down for the same "obscure" reasons.

Reid said Wilkinson had failed to look at the possible conservation benefits of a marine reserve.

Forest & Bird marine conservation advocate Kirstie Knowles was also concerned about the future of marine reserves.

"In light of this decision, Forest & Bird is very concerned about the future of any other marine reserve applications and the future of our marine life in general," Knowles said.

"This application has been declined despite a huge effort over 14 years since the application was first made to work with tangata whenua and all the other stakeholders."

Wilkinson said she was "not satisfied" that nature tourism benefits from a reserve would "outweigh the detriment to recreational fishers no longer able to fish in the area".

- © Fairfax NZ News