Whitebait numbers decline 'rubbish'

Southland whitebaiters have questioned DOCs assertion that whitebait numbers are in decline and claim the department fails to adequately police the rivers during the season. 

The department says four of the six whitebait species are classified as at risk or threatened and New Zealand's whitebaiters have told them their catches are smaller than they used to be.

It wants to reverse the "decline" of whitebait numbers in New Zealand and has asked the public to share their views on whitebait management at drop-in sessions around the country.

The Invercargill drop-in session, at the Ascot Park Hotel, was attended by at least 50 whitebaiters on Tuesday.

​Southland whitebaiters spoken to by Stuff at the session questioned whether there was in fact a decline in numbers.

Lower Mataura River whitebaiter Rick Clyma said he had seen no proof whitebait numbers were in decline and DOC needed to produce the data before making any hasty decisions about how it managed the fishery.

It it was shown to be in decline, then the problem should be addressed, he said.

Robert Barrett said last year was the best fishing he had had on the Mataura River and more people were whitebaiting than ever before.

Several other whitebaiters also questioned whether there was a decline in numbers, including Fay Hannah who said it was "rubbish".

"It goes in cycles, you have a bad year and a good one."

Southland whitebaiters spoken to by Stuff also said DOC was not sufficiently enforcing the rules during the season, in part because they were being thwarted from doing so.

"With cellphones nowadays DOC hits the river and everybody knows they are there. It's a joke."

Others Southland whitebaiters, however, believed action need to be taken to preserve the whitebait fishery, with suggestions including banning fishermen from selling whitebait, shortening the seasons until numbers increased, introducing catch quotas and introducing licensing fees.

Ian McCracken, past president to the Southland Recreational Whitebaiters Association, said he believed the whitebait population may be declining, but "very gradually".

McCracken, who wanted a whitebait management group formed for New Zealand, believed all whitebaiters should have to pay an annual $120 license fee, with the money used for habitat protection and research.

Neil Earland said he did not think the whitebait were in decline on the Aparima River but he wanted some controls put on commercial whitebait fishing.

Another whitebaiter said the population had declined from 50 years ago but many more people were now catching the delicacy.

"If they are absolutely convinced the whitebait are declining so badly ... cut the season down to six weeks for three years and see if the whitebait come back again."  

A DOC spokesman, in a statement after the drop-in session, said its staff had spent slightly less time than it had planned doing whitebait compliance in Southland due to staff vacancies.

However, DOC staff had still visited all whitebait rivers and hotspots in Southland, he said.

DOC freshwater manager Natasha Grainger said it relied on anecdotal reports to determine how many whitebait were about.

"We currently don't have enough data to accurately quantify and analyse population declines and attribute to certain threats and pressures.

"However, historical accounts tell us quite clearly whitebait numbers are not what they used to be."

The purpose of the drop in sessions was to gather views from a wide range of people.

A survey was also in circulation and DOC would compile the feedback along with views of a whitebait working group and iwi.

It would outline the issues and options for the future of whitebait management in a report next year.