|
Hodgson's First Response to option4
Minister
of Fisheries
23
November 2000
Office of Hon Pete Hodgson
MP for Dunedin North
Minister of Energy
Minister of Forestry
Minister for Small Business
Associate Minister for Economic Development
Associate Minister for Industry
& Regional Development
Minister of Fisheries
Minister of Research, Science &Technology
Minister for Crown Research Institutes
Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Minister Responsible for Timberlands
West Coast Ltd
23 NOV 2000
Dear Mr Barnes
Thank you for your letters of 20 and 21 October 2000 regarding the
Soundings recreational consultation process. I appreciate the background
you provided on the option4 group, and can see the real commitment
your group has to recreational fishing. I hope to be able to take
up your offer to meet in Auckland sometime in the New Year.
Your letters raise two broad issues, namely the status of the 1989
recreational fishing policy, and what happens after submissions
close. I will deal with each of these in turn.
The 1989 Recreational Fishing Policy
There is some confusion about the 1989 fishing policy and I welcome
the opportunity to provide some clarification. The previous Labour
Government's fisheries Minister approved the policy. As Cabinet
did not consider it, the policy does not have the status of a Labour
government policy.
A number of significant changes have occurred in fisheries management
since 1989, in particular, the 1990 shift to proportional quota
for the commercial sector, the 1992 commercial fisheries settlement
with Maori, and the elimination of fisheries management plans from
the legislation. All of these were relevant to Parliament's consideration
of the Fisheries Act 1996. For example, during the Select Committee's
consideration of section 21 (matters to be taken into account in
setting or varying any total allowable commercial catch) of the
Fisheries Act 1996, recreational fishing groups made strong requests
for priority over commercial. Parliament, with bipartisan support,
decided not to provide such a priority. However, section 311 and
the disputes procedure were included in the legislation in an attempt
to improve recreational fishers' access to in-shore areas.
The situation is that neither recreational nor commercial have priority
over one another. Instead the Minister of Fisheries decides what
shares each sector should have in a given fishstock, taking into
account the purpose and principles of the Act and other factors
relevant to the individual situation. .
The issue we must now address is the best way to move forward from
where we are now. I cannot emphasise enough the opportunity that
the Soundings process provides for us to address some fundamental
issues about the future quality of recreational fishing.
In terms of share of the catch, Soundings raises the issue of priority
over commercial, as well as some form of proportional share arrangement
(not necessarily based on the current share). As you recognise though
there are some constraints that need to be worked through carefully,
like the need to meet the 1992 Deed of Settlement (Sealords deal).
Let me explain more fully because it is important.
Over half of quota is owned by Maori. Much of this quota was provided
to Maori as part of the Sealords deal, which recognised and settled
Maori's rights stemming from the Treaty of Waitangi. If the Government
was to attempt to unilaterally introduce a blanket priority for
recreational over commercial this would diminish the value of the
settlement to Maori, and the Government would be facing new grievances
from Maori. Proposed changes to recreational fishing would be going
nowhere fast.
However, I recognise the value of a fish caught by a recreational
fisher may in some cases far outweigh the value of the same fish
caught by a commercial fisher. A kahawai caught by an overseas visitor,
cooked or smoked by the host, may be worth many times more to the
economy that one caught commercially and sold in the market.
So the challenge that all of us with an interest in recreational
fishing management, including customary, commercial and environmental
interests as well as the multitude of recreational fishers we have,
is a big one. We need to talk through the issues in a careful considered
way so that we can improve the quality of recreational fishing without
creating new grievances. It won't be easy, and it will take time,
but it is vital that we address the issues up front in order to
put recreational fishing on the firm footing it requires.
Process after submissions close
The material in Soundings covers the key points. Submissions will
be summarised, and by 31 March 2001 the Ministry of Fisheries is
required to report back to Cabinet. While I cannot anticipate what
Cabinet will decide, if change is required following careful consideration
of the submissions, there may be a further round of consultation
on a specific proposal before looking at the need for any legislative
change. Whatever happens will take some time, and there will be
further opportunities for input and dissemination of information
about the proposals at a later stage.
You may be aware that I have agreed to extend the deadline for submissions
to 20 December 2000. I hope that this will be long enough for you
and other affiliated clubs and associations to determine their collective
positions. The deadline cannot be further extended without putting
the timetable for later work at some risk.
I can assure you the government is committed to an open transparent
process. All those who make a submission will receive a copy of
the summary of submissions. The Ministry of Fisheries intends to
contract this work out to an independent party. Each submission
will be considered on its own merits. While the number of people
supporting a particular view is important, the Government will be
particularly interested in well thought out ideas about the best
way to move forward.
Yours sincerely
Hon Pete Hodgson
Minister of Fisheries
TOP
|
