Management and Policy Submissions 2013                                                              

by the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council

Introduction

All submissions made by the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council have the objective of achieving the vision of 'more fish in the water for future generations'. 

Due to the extensive, nationwide interests of our 55 clubs the Council submits on a range of issues and proposals. 

The following is a summary of submissions made during 2013, with the latest documents at the top of the list. 

Click on the right-hand image to download the document, or follow the link to read more detail.....

Submission - Seabed mining South Taranaki Bight. 19 December 2013

The South Taranki Bight is home to a rich variety of fish and crustaceans. The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council has submitted the Environmental Protection Authority must decline the application to mine the seabed in the South Taranaki Bight. Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd has applied for a 20-year marine consent, to mine up to 50 million tonnes of seabed each year  .......Seabed mining Taranaki

Submission - Southern Bluefin tuna. 29 November 2013

Southern Bluefin tuna is assessed at being at or below 5% of unfished biomass. Despite this the Ministry for Primary Industries has proposed commercial catch increases over the next two years. The NZ Sport Fishing Council has submitted in response to the MPI proposals arguing they are only justified in the interests of beneficiary quota holders.......Southern Bluefin tuna review

Submission - Snapper 1. 23 August 2013

The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council acknowledge the Snapper 1 review process was not about sustainability, the fishery was rebuilding, it was about allocation. That is, who gets what fish now and more importantly how the fishery is split in the future. 

A comprehensive list of campaign, event, submission and process documents is here for the......Snapper 1 review

Submission - Kingfish 7. August 9, 2013

The NZSFC submits an alternative management regime to provide incentives for commercial fishers to avoid kingfish, release them alive, and to better cover expected bycatch of dead fish. There must be 100% observer coverage on chartered factory trawlers while in New Zealand waters. 

A list of relevant documents and information is available here for the......Kingfish 7 review

Submission - Snapper 7. August 9, 2013

The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council recommends a new allowance be made for fishing related mortality, recreational harvest and an increase in daily bag limit in the Marlborough Sounds, in recognition of the increased abundance of snapper. 

Relevant documents, the proposal papers and decision letter is available here for the......Snapper 7 review

Submission - Sea perch 1. August 9, 2013

The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council has serious concerns that the use of bulk harvesting methods such as trawling in inshore low foul to target Sea perch does not meet the environmental principles of the Fisheries Act 1996. 

A list of documents, proposal papers and letters are available here for the.......Sea perch 1 review

Submission - Paua 5D regulation review. 19 April 2013

NZSFC submit for the status quo. There ought to be no change to the regulations banning commercial harvest from limited areas of the Otago and Southland coastline. Environmental and public interests come first!

A comprehensive list of related documents is available here.....Paua 5D Otago Southland regulation review

Submission - Coromandel Scallop fishery. 8 February 2013

Until there is better understanding of the newly discovered scallops beds in the Hauraki Gulf, the Minister must retain the current commercial catch levels in the Coromandel Scallop fishery. The NZ Sport Fishing Council also recommend the Minister increases the baseline allowances for non-commercial fishing interests, to ensure all potential mortality remains within the Total Allowable Catch (TAC). 

A more comprehensive list of related documents is available here.....Coromandel Scallop fishery documents

Submission - Rock Lobster sustainability. 1 February 2013

The Minister for Primary Industries, Nathan Guy, needs to take a more active role in Rock Lobster management, to restore abundance, to decrease the risks associated with low stock levels and to provide for reasonable public use. The NZSFC also recommends he stops the use of Management Procedures based on commercial Catch Per Unit of Effort controls. A full management review is required. 

A more comprehensive list of related documents is available here.....Crayfish management documents