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Fishing Companies not serious about saving dolphin What a fantastic response to demands from recreational fishers and dolphin lovers! This terrific move by Sanford’s and Moana NZ is a huge step in the right direction.

Finally they have admitted that they are currently buying fish caught in Maui dolphin habitat that is caught using gillnets and trawling – fishing methods known to kill dolphins, but their combined response to stop trawling by 2022 is pathetic.

There are estimated to be only 63 Maui dolphins over the age of one year left.

That’s a shocking fact – and very bad press for these companies, which advertise that they are sustainable and environmentally responsible. It’s like saying you will stop drunk driving on Sundays (but will keep doing it the rest of the week).

Another shocking part of the proposal is that they won’t do anything about it until October 2017 because they think it will take government that long to pay them compensation to stop killing dolphins. There is no evidence that the modified trawl nets they say they will start using in 2022 will have any effect on reducing dolphin deaths, ​to the contrary two common dolphin have been caught in this net, the PSH net is in fact a dolphin killer just like any other net​.If they are serious about saving Maui dolphin they would stop all net fishing methods from the West Coast ​immediately: So why this change of heart?

Protesting against the commercial fishing practices have inflicted serious brand damage that they have no choice.

The most significant thing about this statement from Sanford’s and Moana NZ is that they have acknowledged the whole area where dolphins are caught. We support them in their quest to ban gillnets completely and the whole industry needs to comply not just one third.

This should be a model for all commercial gillnetters to adopt immediately, waiting until October 2017 could see ​ the complete extinction of Maui.

Another issue is that there are two other companies, Talleys and Egmont Fishing, who do a lot of fishing south of New Plymouth and are not part of the agreement. Even north of New Plymouth, only 5 of 15 gillnetting boats on the open coast will be affected and none of the many boats (probably close to a hundred boats) that fish inside the Manukau and Kaipara Harbours.

Moana New Zealand CEO Carl Carrington said they knew this decision would threaten the livelihoods of fishers, but

it was “the right thing to do”.

By October 2017, no quota will be leased to fishers using set nets out to 100 metres depth north of New Plymouth

by Sanford’s and Moana NZ.

I just want to pay off my debts and get the hell out.”

The research - conducted by the DoC and MPI found there are approximately 63 adults left in the species whereas there was previously thought to have been only 55. Yet the So why have Sanford’s and Moa- MPI has just given them permisna NZ turned against their own sion to kill 135 dolphin a year, but kind. Maybe it’s because they has not said what will happen want to isolate themselves so once they have killed that many. they can save their brand name! Admissions from a commercial longline fisher say categoriSanford’s employ a Fishing Com- cally that all inshore fish can be panies liaison manager Alison caught outside 12 nautical miles Undorf-Lay who should have nego- Jacob Drake: The inshore tiated this policy with all the other fish do move out past 12nm. companies that fish in the area, so Kevin Trigg Sure, but I don’t think that they could have all shared the they don’t breed out there. The glory, rather than betraying them better the inshore fishery from imand going behind their backs. proved habitat and less pressure, “To the fishers who could lose the more the commercial fishers will their livelihood because of these be able to catch outside the 12nm. initiatives, it’s a really hard call.” NZ as a whole will be better off.

They have told so many lies it’s Rhys Smith Snapper are mostly 75 hard to believe anything they say. metres max but the 100 metre line Sure we agree what they are pro- really stops them, that’s why the 100 posing is a terrific thing to do metre restriction is a no go because for dolphin, but the government it effectively close’s the commercial must act and ensure that the lit- possibility of catching Snapper. tle guys with quota get subsidies Jacob Drake That’s not true. Rhys to quickly change their fishing Smith Who told you that snapmethods, b ​ut should we the tax per stop at 100m. I’ve got lots are caused by entanglement and payer reward the people who of snappers at 200m. It’s better drowning in set nets or trawl fishing. killed the dolphin in the first place​? fishing past 100m for snapper. So why the delays in stopping this?

Sanford’s and Moana NZ have ad- Jacob Drake Wow. I’m a Commer- What pressure will the MPI put on mitted that they are fully aware cial longline fisherman. Been skip- the other 10 boats to stop netting? of the harm caused by gillnetters ping for 7 years. Last winter I done The government should give every and trawling to dolphin. Some- most of my snapper fishing 110m to single one of these boats long lining thing they have previously denied. 160m. Catching on average 800kg equipment and tie them to the docks ​This policy when enforced in 2017 per day. Using 2800 hooks. Have you will only reduce the risk slightly.​ ever been out that deep and had a In their statement Sanford’s and look in winter. Hmmmmm and gurMoana beg the government to give nard well seem to be great in 120m. financial assistance to the failing Jacob Drake Hahaha you industry to help in the transition to sound like a trawler man. dolphin friendly fishing methods. Nick Hayes I bulk harvest gurSo again these private com- nard and anything from 80m panies that make a profit to 130m but most over a 100m for private investors want a Jacob Drake People hand out from government. need to know the truth.

The Westpac report released early last year identifies clearly that These companies are using their commercial fishing industry is a PR spin doctors to the max exbad investment and no longer plaining how they are going to has social public acceptance. spend $500,000 on cameras, reWhy would this government pour search and compliance when good money into a bad invest- the truth is t​hey will be forced ment, unless it is colluding with the to do this by new legislation.​ industry to try and save it from dis- The MPI w ​ ill do this because the appearing entirely? Not a bad idea. commercial fishers have been The only workable solution is for caught many times over, dumpall commercial fishing for export ing fish and killing dolphin, around NZ to be outside 12 nau- then losing the video evidence. tical miles with the exception of No conventional trawling by 2022 the West Coast Maui area which clearly shows that they are not serineeds to be to 100 metre depth. ous about this and it’s highly likely A commercial fisherman in every single dolphin will have been Taranaki has rubbished new gov- caught and killed by this time. ernment data which shows in- This is not a joke and really pathetic. creased Maui’s dolphin numbers. Scientists state that more than “I used to love fishing, now 95% of unnatural Māui deaths

immediately until they comply.

It would take about two weeks and $50,000 per boat to change them over plus the initial running costs. They could do this immediately to save the remaining dolphin.

There are two types of gill netters the harbour floun-

der fishers and the bluewater. ​It is time for MPI or DoC to use legislation under the Marine Mammals Act they already have and stop all commercial​ netting on the West Coast period as very clearly the fishing companies have given them the go ahead.​

Be Safe this summer wear a life jacket!!

Agents for Locator Beacons

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View the newspaper online at www.fishingoutdoors.org – and advertise online with us Fishing and Outdoors PO Box 10580, Te Rapa, Hamilton 3240 Ph 07 8551833 Editor Graham Carter mail@fishingoutdoors.co.nz 021 02600437 Graphics: Astro Creative Photography: Sandi Tuan Regular Writers: Graham Carter James Speedy Ben Hope Frank Henry Dick Featherstone Tony Orman Rhys Smith John McNab Fishing and Outdoors is published by Ashwood Grove Ltd. All editorial copy and photographs are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. Opinions or comments expressed within this publication are not necessarily those of the contributors, editor, staff and management or directors of Ashwood Grove Ltd.

How to smoke a ham The mark for cold smokers is finally here especially with the UFO Cold Smoke Creator.

Designed to produce a cold smoke and it can be fitted to any smoking box, shed, old fridge, hooked BBQ, and of course one of the UFO cookers or smoke boxes. Now you can cold smoke all your foods, like cheese, eggs, garlic, make your own bacon and of course all your fish and meats as well. The UFO Cold Smoke Creator must be used with smoking CHIP, not saw dust.

Dimensions: 350mmH x 60mmD UFO or your local supplier have a wide range of dust and chips including … pohutukawa, manuka, hopi, french oak wine barrel chips.

The big differences with smoking is longer smoking times and the UFO Cold Smoke Creator.is just what you will need to create a professional finish to your smoking.

temperature under 170 deg F. The fat on the ham will not render and aim for an internal temp of 155 deg F for a fully cooked ham or 140 deg F for a precooked one, which will take you approximately 16 to 20 hours.

This recipe is of the Hot Smoke type and also common in smoking hams.

Because ham is such a thick piece of meat it is important to cure and cook it properly to avoid any bacteria and not poison yourself or others.

Simply your internal meat temperature is of the most importance. Never cook on “Time” always cook on internal temperature.

Ingredients 3kg/6lb Leg of pork, shoulder Sirloin butt half Brine ¾ cups rock salt/kosher salt 1 cup brown sugar 5 tspns cure No 1 1 garlic clove (can overpower flavour – optional) Few peppercorns Few bay leaves and some cloves 2.5 litres of water Injecting the pork is recommended; also some netting or cooking twine will do to hold ham together.

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The Dry Smoke process takes between 8 to 12 hours.

Ham can be made and smoked in many different ways.

For example for a medium smoke, keep your smoking

This is the consistency of the brine you need. Double or triple the amount to completely submerge the pork in the brine.

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Add all the ingredients into your water (except Cure No 1).

Make sure your pot is large enough to hold possibly triple the amount of ingredients.

Bring to the boil.

Make sure not to add Cure No 1 / Pink Salt into the boiling water as it will stop working and could ruin the entire process.

Then simmer and stir until salt and sugar have completely dissolved.

Then cool down to room temperature.

After a few hours when the liquid has cooled to room temperature add in the Cure No 1 and stir.

Pour your liquid which is now the brine mix into a ffod grade container.

Make sure it is not metallic, give it a quick stir and put it in the fridge to chill.

The brine will need to be well chilled before you add the pork, you can add ice to increase the cooling process.

Trim and clean the pork, remove the skin and as much fat as possible, then a quick rinse under the tap and pat dry.

Once the brine has chilled completely to fridge temperature inject the brine into the meat. This is so that all of the meat will be cured.

Make sure to inject along the bones, fat traces and also the thickest parts, ten per cent of the meat weight is the amount wright of brine to inject.

Place the meat into the brine and make sure it is completely submerged. To stop it from floating just weigh it down with something food grade.

If your meat does not float, add a whole egg into the brine, also add more salt by tablespoons to see when it floats. Then add equal amount of brown sugar.

Put the container with ham in it into the fridge at a room temperature of 36F – 40F . 2C – 4C, for 6-7 days. It will take this long for the curing process to be complete.

Flip the meat over a few times and stir up the brine a few times.

After brining is complete thoroughly rinse the ham to get rid of the excess salt and grime. You can use a clean brush to scrub, but do not soak ham.

Pat the ham dry very well as it will hold a lot of fluid. Use paper towels or a tablecloth. Just make sure that it is very well dried by hand.

You will need to compact the ham so it does not break apart in the smoker, also makes it easier to hang.

Use and tie with twine or netting etc.

Hang the hang in the fridge for 24 hours to dry. Place something underneath to catch the dripping brine mess.

Light the smoker and get a good smoke going, then place the hams on a rack so they hand well clear of each other and away from the walls.

Seal the door and grab a beer.

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Plan to save Hauraki Gulf A long awaited plan to change the Hauraki Gulf with proposed new marine protected areas, new rules for polluters, stem the flow of sediment and other pollutants into the Hauraki Gulf, ease pressures on wildlife, fish stocks and kaimoana and restore the health of crucial ecosystems and changes to commercial fishing methods has been revealed in a collaborative policy blueprint, called Sea Change-Tai Timu Tai Pari.

The plan details steps to “phase out” bottom-contact fishing methods such as trawling, Danish seining, set netting and dredging, to review the way fish stocks are managed, create 13 new marine protected areas (MPAs) and extend two existing ones.

The new MPAs suggested were at the Mokohinau Islands, Little Barrier (Hauturu) Island, Cape Colville, Alderman (Ruamaahua) Islands, Mercury (Ahuahu) Islands, Slipper (Whakahau) Island, Whangateau Harbour, Kawau Islands, Tiritiri Matangi Islands, Noises Islands, Rangitoto and Motutapu, the Firth of Thames and the Motukawao Group, which would include no take areas nested within “larger, special management areas with fisheries management objectives”.

Two existing marine reserves at Hahei (Te Whanganui a Hei Marine Reserve), Coromandel region and Leigh (Cape Rodney - Okakari Pt Marine Reserve), north of Auckland, are recommended for extensions.

Currently, there are six marine reserves where no habitat disturbance or removal of marine life is allowed in the Hauraki Gulf, and five MPAs where no bottom-contact fishing is allowed.

The new marine spatial plan recommended new local “Ahu Moana” marine areas, from the mean high-water mark to a kilometre offshore, would allow mana whenua and local communities to work together to manage their coastal area using existing statutory rights and practices; and areas for an expansion of environmentally sustainable marine farming, without over-riding regional coastal planning and resource consent processes.

The plan also suggests new aquaculture sites for inter-tidal shellfish and oysters at Thames, Kaiaua, Coromandel Harbour South, Coromandel Harbour North, Whangapoua and Maraetai, mussel and fish sites at Colville, Great Mercury, East Coromandel, South Great Barrier Island and mussel sites at the western Firth

of Thames, Ponui and Whitianga.

It proposed new rules that would slash sediment and nutrients entering the coastal marine area to levels which support healthy habitats, as well as building more wetland areas to capture sediment.

A recent environmental stocktake of the Hauraki Gulf painted a grim picture: snapper and crayfish populations slashed by three-quarters, and development and intensive agriculture heaping more pressure on estuaries and coastlines already affected by sediment and chemical run-off.

The plan’s architects were worried the Hauraki Gulf’s plight would only worsen, with more than 2.8 million people projected to be living within 80km of the marine park by 2041, and the Auckland region’s population booming to 2.5 million by 2041.

They say a marine spatial plan - a relatively modern concept globally - would offer a strong framework to guide the management of the gulf’s coastal area, protecting marine habitats and replenishing fish stocks, while making the gulf more productive.

Environmental Defence Society chief executive Gary Taylor said current policy settings clearly hadn’t worked for the gulf, and a reset was needed.

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2016 has seen Invercargill based FREWZA Boats reach two significant milestones. the past ten years makes an interesting story.

FREWZA Boats has developed a huge reputation for building world class boats with the highest quality the marine industry offers.

Brendon started FREWZA Boats from his backyard shed in 2006 and straight away had a major imBoom!!! There is Frewza boat number 1000. Awesome pact on the market.

The main players in the work team! market had forgotten Earlier in the year FREWZA Boats about the entry level boats and havclocked up ten years in business, ing been in the boat building/engiand in typical FREWZA fashion neering game for ten years at this there was not too much song and stage, Brendon set out to reinvent dance. However recently FREWZA the humble New Zealand dinghy.

Boat number 1000 rolled off the The success of the dinghies paved production line and reflecting on the way for the FREWZA brand as ten

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Sanford’s whinging about Hauraki Gulf plan The recently announced Hauraki Gulf plan to phase out destructive fishing methods, such as trawling, in the Hauraki Gulf has got Sanford’s one of the culprits whinging and saying the report is unscientific and uneconomic.

The report suggests that to reverse declining fish stocks it wants to phase out fishing methods such as trawling, Danish Seining, set netting and dredging.

The report recommends that commercial fishing companies should instead concentrate on

producing higher-quality fish, caught using long-lines, which is if fact quite a sensible idea.

However Volker Kuntzsch Sanford’s chief executive says the plan is based on emotion, not science.

The Fisheries Industries Liaison person Alison Undorf-Lay has been moaning on twitter ‘I worry the MPI want change as they think it’s easier to deal with than problem solving.’

These remarks are quite childish and show that they attitude at the top is really bad.

With an attitude like that how can customary and recreational fishers ever work with this man who is clearly not interested in a sustainable fishery?

In fact Kuntzsch should be welcoming the report with open arms and work with it to ensure he has somewhere to fish in the future.

Fisheries companies in the USA now have to get approval from recreational fishers because their fisheries were ruined by commercial greed.

Maybe it’s time this happened here in New Zealand.

New Zealand wide Marine Brokerage for

. Buying and Selling . Marketing Plans . Valuations . Marine Insurance . Marine Finance . Sales Berths available with 10 branches throughout New Zealand Gulf Group can offer these Services www.gulfgroup.co.nz

years on we boast 23 different models of boats ranging from 2.8m to 7m.

Brendon has always been keen on the water, the ocean, lakes, rivers, hunting and fishing and all things the great New Zealand outdoors has to offer.

This has seen him clock up thousands of hours and experience on the water over the years, so when it comes to design and building fit for purpose boats, very few match his experience!

The success of FREWZA Boats has many factors, the value of quality staff is something we never take for granted.

We are lucky to run a business doing something we love and to have a crew equally as passionate about what they do is something very special we think!

Please visit and LIKE us on Facebook www. facebook.com/Fishingandoutdoorsnewspaper and share with your friends and get out regular news and updates

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Twilight fishing in the Gulf

Sonia Balk from Te Aroha with a good snapper

With fishing competitions running hot around the Gulf, there’s plenty of decent sized snapper being caught which is proof that there’s plenty of fish around. So the good ol Coromandel is proving the place to be if you want a feed of fresh snapper early morning Ledger rigs were the go and all you

needed was the head of a pilchard with a small piece of squid, placed on the hook first then wrapped around the pilchard to hold it in place.

We headed out at 3 pm on the Joint Venture with Jordan at the helm.

We had a ball and filled the chilly bin up with good 3-4lb fish in no time. My mate next to me was catching his share as well.

We had a couple of farmers from Te Aroha and a husband and wife from Tairua. These folk fished the West Coast areas from Tairua down to Tauranga and complained bitterly on the lack of fishing due to the hammering the area received from the trawlers.

Most of the Coromandel charter operators have been enjoying the influx of Tauranga fishers for some time, who are sick and tired of the decimation there.

Comments from some of the other fishos who all went home with a good feed were impressed with the ‘customer service’ that Jordan provides “we were hooked up on a good fish and before you knew it – the deckie had the net under it ensuring we didn’t lose the fish. Very impressive.”

Coromandel Fishing Charters are taking bookings for small and medium sized groups to fill up each charter so if you have a couple of mates but are a few short of a

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5

Real panda’s only eat bamboo The Panda Club (also known as WWF) eats dolphins for breakfast.

They don’t seem to care that Maui dolphins are slowly going extinct, on their watch. They could be running a hard hitting, effective campaign to save Maui dolphins. For example they could be asking WWF Les from Te Aroha with his catch

boat load don’t worry just give Tom and call and he’ll help you out.

Coromandel Fishing Charters work in unison with Salty Towers Bait and Tackle shop who offer a fish filleting service along with bait and tackle supplies and they have fresh mussels available to take home as well.

Rec fishers need to realize that Salt Ice is as essential to fishing as bait, especially if you want fresh fish for the family after being out in the sun all day. Anyone that doesn’t take out ice to put the fish under doesn’t deserve to take anything home.

Coromandel Fishing Charters offer more than a fishing experience as there is a lot more to the Hauraki Gulf than people imagine.

To Book your Charter or Christmas function call Tom or Lorraine on 0800 267624 or 027 8668001 or the office at 07 8668928.

Email: corofishing@gmail.com

members worldwide to use their consumer power and stop the dolphin deaths. Instead, they are going for a soft target compromise that will do nothing to save the dolphins.

This is a fishing industry greenwash!

Could this be because WWF takes millions of dollars from the fishing and aquaculture industry? Unilever and WWF set up the Marine Stewardship Council and raked in millions of dollars. Fishing and aquaculture companies are prepared to pay lots of money to be allowed to put the panda logo and MSC logo on their products. This is cheap at twice the price. They will get premium price for a product that looks sustainable - but isn’t.

If you don’t believe it, check out this Four Corners documentary: www.abc.net.au/4corners/sto-

ries/2016/10/31/4564542.htm When it comes down to it, WWF is not a watch dog but a lap dog.

Don’t buy it!

Catch your own fish. Then you know how it was caught and that it’s dolphin safe. If you buy fish, ask how it was caught. Do not buy fish caught by trawlers or in a gillnet.

If the fish shop or supermarket can’t (or won’t) tell you how it was caught, don’t buy it. They will soon find out more about the products they are selling and will start only selling dolphin safe, truly sustainable fish.

If you think you can’t do anything about this problem, think again!

If you and every customer in New Zealand and overseas stop buying New Zealand fish - this problem will be solved very quickly.

MPI makes large-scale pāua busts

MPI fishery officers have returned almost 600 undersized pāua to the sea near Napier after several large-scale pāua busts that occurred over one day.

It makes a mockery of the fact that only Not how you keep your catch – salt ice 4 commercial vessels have been prosecuted for dumping fish since 2009. It needed. would appear the honourable MPI’s Director General has been telling porkies The Ministry for Primary Industries has said there had been 28 Drink Up such prosecutions since 2004.

But when asked for more details of those There I was, sitting at the local staring at my drink when the local MPI fisheries ranger a real trouble-making one-eyed basket 28 cases, only four were produced. steps up next to me, grabs my drink and gulps it down in one swig.

Martyn Dunne has repeatedly claimed, “Well, whatcha’ gonna do about it?” he says, menacingly, as I burst into tears. in the face of claims his department “Come on, man,” the ranger says, “I didn’t think you’d CRY. I can`t stand to see a man crying.”

“This is the worst day of my life,” I say. “I’m a complete failure. I was late to a meeting and my boss fired me. When I went to the car was soft on illegal discarding, that park, I found my car had been stolen and I don’t have any insurance. I left my wallet in the taxi I took home. I found my wife with they were prosecuting 300 cases and issuing over 3000 infringements a another man, and then my dog bit me.”

“So I came to this bar to work up the courage to put an end to it all. I buy myself a drink, I drop a capsule in and sit here watching year. However, for dumping, latest figures show it is fewer than one a year. the poison dissolve; then you show up and drink the whole thing......but enough about me, how’s your day going?”

The Ministry has previously down-

played the threat from dumping, while at the same time saying it targets it seriously.

Previously, Martyn Dunne and the Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy have both dismissed a warning from one of fisheries most senior managers, Dave Turner, about fish dumping being systemic, and that wiping it out could also wipe out half the inshore fleet.

Team Manager Eastern and Lower North Island, Mike Green, says a routine day last Friday turned into one of a steady stream of discoveries of people taking excess pāua as well as undersized pāua at Tangoio Beach.

“Officers were involved in at least five incidents over a matter of a few hours where people were caught with very large amounts of pāua, most of which didn’t meet the minimum size requirements,” says Mr Green.

“As a result of all of these incidents, a total of 573 pāua was seized and returned to the sea although, unfortunately, some may have been out of the water too long to survive.

“Only 2 of the pāua were legally sized.

At least 8 people are likely to appear in court on various charges as a result. In addition, 3 vehicles used in the commission of the offences were seized.

“These incidents are very disappointing. People are continuing to flout the law despite knowing the rules and regulations around catch sizes and limits.

“There is no excuse for this sort of offending. As summer approaches, MPI fisheries officers will be out and about in greater numbers, reminding people of the rules and holding people to account where there is evidence of offending.

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OPINION

Dog eat dog mentality of fishing

By Rhys Smith

What the long liners deny and don’t want us to know. This is exactly the reason that the long liners fishing for export need to be forced to fish outside 12 nautical miles.

After a commercial long line fisherman tagged in an earlier post on social media, I had hoped he would have weighed in to share his industry insight with regards to longline fishing sustainability.

Sadly when opening his profile to send a direct message to him requesting insight and information the picture first seen is of a couple of proudly displayed bluenose.

Stock Status symbols.pdf

Table Nov (107.4

2015 kb)

With five stocks of bluenose sitting in the overfished and declining stock category what is there to be smiling about here mate?

The big issue with fishing for this size bluenose in 400 metres is that there is no way that they can be released once caught as they won’t survive. So why is this guy fishing there when it’s likely he’ll catch many more like this?

There is no future for that reef if the Blue Nose is this small. That is the size of fish you should STOP catch-

ing by moving on. The trawlers have a move on agreement in SNA1, so it appears long liners do not.

They do the same thing to the other deep coral fish, Red Snapper, Hapuka and so on.

It’s very hard to believe that catching this sized small fish are a mistake when he is happy to hold them up for a photo and you can see how really happy he is with them.

This photo is a photo of the result of over-fishing a fish stock till the size is juvenile at best. It may not be illegal but it is really selfish and a good example of the very poor personal management of the fishery.

A point to be made is this; commercial fishers catch their fish by the ton, so as soon as the fish size goes down, the number of fish required per ton goes up plus it takes substantially more fish to fill the baskets.

This is how they get caught with a sudden depleted stock. The smaller the fish the more rapid the decline. If MPI only assess the stock every 2 years that could be too late. But the commercial fishermen are highly skilled and know this; the result is in the photo above.

The same is not true of recreational fishers. If they have a day catch limit of 10 fish that’s what they catch.

If the size of the fish goes down they still catch 10 fish. This gives the stock the seasonal ability to grow.

Commercial fishermen are always going to fish to the regulations put in front of them, we expect them to stop fishing an area because the fish are smaller is not realistic because there will always be another boat coming along behind to try the same spot, and that is the point, the fish stock will not survive this type of dog eat dog fishing mentality.

It may require legisla-

tion to stop this behaviour.

When the quota system was first introduced the hapuka take was reduced by 70% such was the scale of overfishing, disappointingly the stocks haven’t recovered mainly because of very poor management by the MPI and clearly poor fishing by the commercial fishers.

The way in which those fish are being targeted is under question here and how sustainable it really is. With longlining our most sustainable means of catching local supply, we need to iron out kinks such as shown to rebuild stocks.

We didn’t highlight this issue, this fisherman did by posting this photograph on a public platform for all the world to see.

The Seafood Industry put him on a pedestal for his sustainable fishing methods and contribution to saving seabirds, but it this responsible fishing?

He is the poster boy of NZ fishing industry and should know better if he is the wonder boy that they portray him to be.

However we represent the fish and don’t see any future in overfishing small fish like he does.

The long liners have the ability to decimate a fishery if they work together and/or fish in one contour reef system for too long.

They did this on the contour 100 metre line between the Mercury Islands and Cuvier Island.

I spoke to one commercial fisher and asked why he did it and he said “because the other fellas were”.

The long liners talk of self-preservation, but don’t exercise it. These fishers talk about their families and fluffy stuff, but the reality is they are all about filling up a big fish hold anyway or anywhere they can.

While export is allowed in the inshore

Visit us on www.facebook/Fishingandoutdoorsnewspaper fishery nothing will change the wolf pack mentality of long liners that will hunt down every available fish for their fresh fish contracts until they are depleted to the point it is uneconomic to fish there and then they will move on.

All that is left behind will be nothing but bare reefs and miles of empty sand.

That is part of the problem that was explained to Sanford CEO recently.

It’s not the boats that catch the fish; it’s the skippers. The commercial long liners have a skill level so much higher than 90% of recreational fishers. So when you see 1000 recreational boats on the water they have probably caught far less than one commercial boat in one day.

The SNA1 Recreational Snapper Catch was 2600 ton last year and commercial was 4500.

If 30 long liners with skilled skippers decide to work together to catch their fish, pockets of depleted fishery will happen really quick.

I saw the damage the liners did with my own eyes. These commercial long line fishers are the reason I started the fish fight. They and their conduct is the reason for the NZ First fishing policy. They are the reason for what you read in the Fishing and Outdoors newspaper.

They are the reason I am writing this page and are the example I give to the many thousands of people I have talked to as guest speaker. Not the men themselves but their total disregard for the preservation of the wild fishery of NZ. I don’t need to makeup stories I talk and discuss precisely what I know and have seen myself. The things I know to be true from 25 years at sea.

The biggest concern is that this practice is legal because the QMS allows it to go on. However when a long liner fishes the same reef for four years it is his choice and he can’t use the QMS as an excuse.

They have fished out many reefs by

choice. The liners were talking self-preservation and I have given an example which shows that this is total rubbish.

This commercial long line fisher had the nerve to ask for a reserve at the Cuvier fishery for five years to allow the hapuka to grow; he blamed the recreational fishers for the depletion. He wanted the fishery to rebuild before they came back to fish it.

I have seen it with my own eyes what the liners have done to reefs.

The sand liners follow fish in and out as they move, but the reefs are there forever and the liners keep on going back time after time.

All he had to do was stop, but he and the other two liners were to selfish to look after their own fishery even for themselves and the fish paid the price.

These long liners are the best way to catch fish for local trade, but these guys are really good at what they do and have shown they tend to work together to catch fish not preserve it. If they won’t split up as they should then we need to change law to make them split up, for the sake of sustainability.

For long liners to portray their innocence of wrong doing because they are not trawlers is a bit much.

No fisherman: commercial, recreational, charter, customary has the right to fish any stock below its ability to regenerate itself.

The MPI are partially to blame for allowing them to do this.

But commercial fishers only fish for the quota they have, so they can only catch the ACE they have. They have better quality of fish because they are able to Iki fish straight away. These are the defences that the long liners use.

But don’t expect the recreational beach fishers to be nice when the liners set just off a beach or fish on the same reefs every day.

The MPI had egg on their face when they put the recreational allocation

up to 3600 ton and we were nowhere near it. The year before Sanford’s was estimating rec -fishers caught 6000 ton and lobbied to put the day limit down to 3. Every time Sanford tries some PR it just puts a big spotlight on all the bad practices in the industry and makes it worse.

To add insult to injury knowing what I know, for this commercial long line fisher to be celebrated as a star of the seafood industry is a really bad joke. The thing somebody forgot to tell him is if you stand up as a star and take a medal for it, everybody can see you warts and all.

At the same time this commercial fisher was saving a few birds on top of the water, he was destroying a hapuka fishery for years to come underneath it.

If you want to be a star of the fishing industry it has to be both, “above and below the ocean” anything less and you should have to give back your prize the fishing industry made up for itself.

The award he got from Prince Charles was for the birds work; I have done my homework and even heard him accept an award for it in Auckland. He asked me to give him a fair go at that award and I did.

I can tell you what this commercial long line fisher did because I saw him, it is an example of what happens to a fishery when long liners concentrate their efforts or work together.

The reality is MPI are failing as the regulator of the industry, due to a disgraceful conflict of interest being their mandate to protect and promote ‘primary industry’.

Yet DoC (and the rest of government) is remiss in their duty to ensure conservation and sustainability of natural resources, by challenging MPI’ s actions, or lack of action in policing the QMS and the out of control raping by foreigners for foreign markets.

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By Rhys Smith

– the complete sub 5-metre fishing boat

Responding to overwhelming customer demand for a more complete and versatile sub 5-metre fishing boat, leading New Zealand trailerboat manufacturer Stabicraft are excited to announced the launch of its much anticipated 1550 Fisher.

Offered as the most comprehensive and well-executed vessel of this class the New Zealand boating market has ever seen, the new 1550 Fisher is the culmination of considerable user research and years of learnings from its successful predecessor, the Stabicraft 1530 Fisher.

“We’ve known for some time there was an opportunity in this segment to a produce a very high performing vessel which offered much more value in terms of completeness and usability than anything currently available in the market”, said Paul Adams, CEO of Stabicraft Marine.

“We knew it had to be versatile and we knew it had to be priced competitively”, he added.

“I am excited with the way are team has re-

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Desperate times for commercial fishers

The Stabicraft 1550 Fisher sponded to this challenge. The Stabicraft 1550 Fisher has all the makings of a very special boat for a diverse audience of kiwi boaters”.

Key research conducted at boat ramps around the country paid specific attention to how owners in this size range used their boats and what features and benefits they considered essential. Space and practicality were consistent themes and a few repeated comments, like those outlined below, drove much of the company’s design thinking: “We need decent ice storage but don’t like tripping over the chilly bin.”

The 1550 Fisher comes with a 70L split lid Icey-Tek chill box slotted into a purpose-built home beneath the portside rear seat.

“I need to be able to reach my tacklebox from anywhere on the boat. In fact, there often isn’t even room for my standalone tacklebox”.

Stabicraft built a dedicated tackle locker under the driver’s seat which keeps three Shimano tackle boxes within arm’s reach of all four seats.

“Easy access to the anchor locker is more important than ever now I’m less mobile than I used to be”.

The Stabicraft 1550 Fisher offers an XOS walk-though windscreen to make this task as simple and safe as possible.

Every aspect highlighted as essential to the experienced boater - performance, utility, suitability for purpose, fit out and value – has been considered, reviewed and implemented to ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction.

Elegant and practical solutions to the issues above are only the start of this impressive compact vessel. The Stabicraft 1550 Fisher is

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built on a hull underwritten by almost 30-years boat manufacturing experience for the toughest sea conditions the company’s commercial and recreational customers face around the globe. Construction strength, class-leading stability, built-in buoyancy and a high performing ride remain at the heart of every unstoppable Stabicraft boat to leave the factory and the 1550 Fisher is no different.

Complete with a dedicated 70-litre Icey-Tek chilly-bin, built-in Shimano tackle boxes, four seats with squabs, an XOS walk-through windscreen, a class-leading 50hp four-stroke outboard (which can be upgraded to a maximum of 75hp) - all towed away on a low-loader Hosking trailer - at this price, it’s hard to see how this package can be improved.

The company believes the Stabicraft 1550 Fisher now holds unique position for boaties from a wide range of backgrounds. The way the company considered the time poor, the budget constrained or even those for whom easy launch and retrieval is must, cannot be matched by another offering.

In the current market, this complete package, along with the way the vessel’s been priced, really does make the Stabicraft 1550 Fisher the obvious choice.

Stabicraft 1550 Fisher Package price $33,995

New Release - Stabicraft 1550 Fisher

This new Value package from Stabicraft has re-written “Value for Money” in NZ.

$33,995.00

With the following features : Yamaha 50 hp 4-stroke (performance figures available) : Galvanized NZ made trailer : Seating for four. : Huge opening centre windscreen for easy anchoring : Nav lights, bilge pump, fishbin, tackle boxes all standard.

For more information or pricing contact Kev & Ian's Marine

www.kev.co.nz

The commercial fishing industry has taken a huge risk to pull itself out of the financial and political slide of oblivion.

The industry shareholders and fund managers must surely have their hand on the panic button ready to unload the environmentally tarnished shares of the industry.

I don’t think I would admit to anybody these days that I was a fishery shareholder; it’s just not something you would want your friends and family to know about.

The West Pac Report released in March last year by some very esteemed gentlemen from this financial institution painted a picture of an industry that was woefully performing and at best in catch up mode and suggested a wait and see approach before any big ticket items were purchased.

This left the industry without investors, and it has been forced to fund itself. Moana NZ chose to be the bank for a private company of fishers from Tauranga when it built the most hated boat in NZ the Santy Maria.

Both commercial fishers and recreational fishers contact us every time this boat breaks wind and smoke comes from its stack. The recreational anglers hate the vessel because it works in the inshore fishery and has an offal discharge system capable of chopping up any unwanted fish and discarding it underwater away from recreational fishers I-phone cameras.

The local small commercial operators can see the Santy Maria and her sister ships on their way as being their replacement by the industry, and they are right.

What the industry has kept secret from their shareholders is the Resource Management Act (RMA) which has come into play and has the potential to remove the

... ... .

new very expensive vessels from the inshore fishery for reasons with cultural or bethnic origin.

That means it will be unable to catch the high-value species like Snapper/John Dory/Trevally that it needs to be financially viable.

I would strongly suggest to the builders of the next boat that they make sure they are paid up front and have a good scrap dealer close by as they may find themselves with a large quantity of steel to sell for scrap price.

The overall plan of the corporate fishing industry was basically to have less boats on the water catching the same amount of high-value fish, and in theory, it should mean less bad press seems to have come unstuck.

The next issue of concern for the commercial industry is their poor financial performance. They desperately need to increase the value of the fish they catch, and that is tough when you consider how poor the quality of bulk harvested fish is.

The industry then took a massive risk in sending and the celebrating the best Cook Strait Hoki fishery in years.

Some boats catch as much as 800 ton a day so they could fly fresh Hoki to Australia. This gave the industry a boost in profit they could make

Based at Coromandel Town.

13m hardwood vessel (ex trawler) Rods available for hire if required Surveyed for 15 fishermen/women Day trips are 8 hours (min) Rod hire $10 per rod Free ice - BYO bait

public in an attempt to redeem itself for past dismal performances.

The industry had already told porkies to McDonalds when it indicated to them that there were no Dolphin anywhere near the Hoki fleet.

The Cook Strait Hoki fishery must have slipped their mind because there is lots of Dolphin there. This was a massive strategic mistake by the industry putting the spotlight on the inshore Hoki fishery that McDonalds didn’t now exist.

Now they do, and the only thing that could have been worse is if they had been caught killing a Hectors Dolphin even though MPI say it’s ok to kill 100 or more by accident.

From now on any Dolphin death will have an impact on NZ’s trade reputation for all its products and that will turn the rest of the export industries including dairy, beef and sheep.

That is how Greenpeace won the biggest marine reserve in the world in Mexico. The industry seems to have gotten away with it this time but I feel the clock is ticking for the Hoki market because the next commercial fishery blunder is most likely just another boat ride away.

Good toilet.

Friendly staff Barbeque available Free tea and coffee Boat hire - $900 full day - $600 half day

Skipper is ex commercial fisherman with 40 years local knowledge

8

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Harsh criticism of MSC Twenty years ago the WWF, helped found the MSC, and has now identified a conflict of interest in MSC’s scheme, which charges a licensing fee of 0.5 percent of wholesale value to companies that use its logo to identify their products as originating from an MSC-certified fishery.

A leaked report from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) describes “troubling, systemic flaws” within the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification scheme, casting doubt on the integrity of a programme trusted by millions of seafood consumers around the world to identify fisheries that are sustainable and well-managed.

Circumstantial evidence is accumulating that this creates a conflict with MSC’s role as an independent and impartial standard-setting body.

With more than 23,000 products using the MSC ecolabel on sale to consumers in nearly 100 countries, according to the MSC, revenue from licensing fees on those products amounted to US14 million in revenue in the last fiscal year – approximately 73 percent of the organization’s total income.

MSC has aggressively pursued global scale growth” and in recent

years “has begun to reap very large sums from the fishing industry.

In addition, MSC has used “questionable practices” that have weakened rules meant to prevent overfishing, potentially making it easier for unsustainable fisheries to gain certification.

MSC has no policy to assess how ‘green’ the fishing fleet actually is.

Since by Euro-Regs and in the US

by NMFS-regs no Least-Carbon 21st-century fishing-fleets are allowed or encouraged, MSC has routinely ‘certified’ fisheries as ‘sustainable’ whose fleet and shore-side infrastructure and operational parameters are still rooted in ‘HighCarbon Practices’ and further such commitments well into the future.

MSC’s ‘blind eye’ on the actual (high-carbon) fleet-characteristics is a direct consequence of e.g. US federal and regional NMFS regs, that plain do not allow the emergence of a Least-Carbon’ Fleet due to badly-written fleet-regulations in New England since 1994 and then taken nationally since 1999.

There is no Least-Carbon Fishing Fleet Working Group at NMFS, nor at NOAA, nor at any of the research institutions, never mind the Regional

David Ainley, Megan Bailey, Paul Dayton, John Hocevar, Michael LeVine, Jordan Nikoloyuk, Claire Nouvian, Enriqueta Velarde, Rodolfo Werner, and Jennifer Jacquet. extracts from Fisheries Management Councils. Several paper is as follows: In fact the New England Fisheries this Management Council voted during Despite high costs and difficult their Nov 16 meeting in Newport procedures, conservation organizaRI to not even put up for discussion tions and other groups have filed for 2017 the need of such a regional and paid for 19 formal objections forum, at least one presentation. to MSC fisheries certifications. Only The need to address the matter has one objection has been upheld such been pushed since 2003 in public. that the fishery was not certified.

And yet by 2016 regulators and sci- An analysis of the formal objections entists refused to even schedule this indicates that the MSC’s principles matter for first formal discussions. for sustainable fishing are too leniSo, MSC’s casual acceptance ent and discretionary, and allow for of High-Carbon Fleets as ‘Sus- overly generous interpretation by tainable’ comes to no surprise. third-party certifiers and adjudicaOf course, the fractured defini- tors, which means that the MSC tions of ‘science’ on global display label may be misleading both conhere are rather remarkable ‘case- sumers and conservation funders. studies’ for PhD- and MS-candi- The third-party scoring process dates to plow through in the vain has been highly subjective (Ward, attempt to find coherent patterns 2008) and certifiers have had too in these metrics and analytics. much discretion and too many In 2016 WWF signed up to a “part- incentives to inflate scores (Jacnership” with OPAGAC (the Spanish quet et al., 2010b; Stokstad, 2011).

Organization of Associated Produc- Over the course of the MSC’s existers of Large Tuna Freezers) to lead ence, fishery clients have spent beit towards MSC certification, when tween US$2.3 and US$18.7 million at the same time, it calls out MSC to on certification alone, not including be afflicted by conflicts of interest, the cost of annual audits and reand operating a flawed certification certifications (or the costs of each scheme. The financing model of MSC objection). This estimate is based on has not changed in recent years. the number of fisheries certified so It calls into question “objectiv- far and the MSC’s estimated assessity” when licensing a fishery means ment costs for each fishery of bemore revenue to the organization. tween US$15,000 and US $120,000.

Three peer-reviewed aca- Investors interested in conservademic articles critical of MSC tion must ask what the returns are available on our website have been on these costs and Fishingoutdoors.org/ whether these returns are justi- Bush 2013 - The devils tri- fied by the annual budget of the angle of MSC certification MSC (around $20 million in 2011).

- Christian et al 2013 - A review of for- Furthermore, the weaknesses in mal objections to MSC certification MSC standards that allow controGoyert Sagarin Annala versial fisheries to be certified are 2010 - The promise and pit- not communicated to consumers. falls of MSC certification All MSC-certified seafood is eligible A review of formal objections to Ma- to use an MSC logo with the words rine Stewardship Council fisheries ‘‘certified sustainable seafood.’’ FurCertifications - Claire Christian, thermore, MSC markets its seafood

as ‘‘the best environmental choice.’’

Given existing concerns, these statements could mislead consumers about the sustainability and environmental friendliness of many MSC-certified products.

At the same time this ‘‘very consciously allows fisheries to qualify for MSC certification without meeting the 80 level on all indicators’’ because the MSC believes ‘‘the movement of fisheries from the 60 to 80 levels is a positive outcome for the world’s fisheries and directly in line with the MSC’s vision’’ (MSC, 2012c).

All incentives point toward certification, which has led the MSC to write and interpret its principles of sustainability in an intentionally ambiguous way (e.g., ‘‘respect for laws’’) and has led third-party certifiers to generously interpret those principles, as well as generously assign high scores. As a result, and contrary to MSC claims, MSC-certified fisheries are not all sustainable, and certified fisheries are also not necessarily improving.

At least one study shows that not all products with the MSClogo are MSC certified (Marko et al., 2011). This combination puts the responsible consumer in the position of buying certified seafood that is not actually guilt-free. ‘‘The best environmental choice in seafood’’ may not protect the fish stocks or their ecosystems, but it does damage the credibility of the certification process.

The question remains whether the MSC will overcome these problems, or if seafood ecolabeling will be, in the end, characterized as ‘bluewashing’.

The ‘devils triangle’ of MSC certification: Balancing credibility, accessibility and continuous improvement - Simon R. Bush, Hilde Toonen, Peter Oosterveer, and Arthur P.J. Mol. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has continued to strengthen its position in the market based on its credibility as a transparent, accountable and science-based

third party certification scheme.

However, the consolidation of MSC’s credibility risks being undermined by the poor representation of developing world fisheries and concerns that the scheme provides little incentive for continual improvement for fisheries once certified.

This paper argues that the challenge of maintaining credibility while increasing access and fisheries improvement constitutes a ‘devils triangle’.

In the absence of a clear policy from MSC for balancing this triangle fisheries are taking their own actions to differentiate themselves both above (MSC-plus) and below (MSC-minus) the certification threshold. To avoid further undermining of the MSC the organization should internalize such externally-led differentiation by moving towards an internally controlled tiered certification system based on its already existing metricbased principle indicator system.

Doing so would communicate on equity and continual improvement both before and after certification, and create ongoing incentives for fishers to enter into the MSC programme.

External diversification of MSC certification in response to the ‘devils triangle’.

These raise the question of whatthen is the strategy of MSC? Nonetheless, strategically from the fishermen’s perspective not very smart allowing MSC to effectively become the gatekeeper to market access.

Enviably it will lead to MSC controlling who goes to market and at what cost. Having an organization control ones value chain is not a smart thing and that is to say nothing of the cost they add to it.

Financial is not the only conflict of interest. Surely, having industry on the board of MSC is a more serious conflict, https://www.msc.org/about-us/ governance/structure/board-oftrustees/whos-on-the-msc-board

MSC certification for depleted Orange roughy So the Primary Industries Minister Guy has welcomed certification of several orange roughy fisheries by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Big deal.

The MPI and commercial industry haven’t rebuilt anything as they claim, they have just found more extensive stocks to fish. Because they found a new stock about 2 years ago, south-east of Dunedin and basically now they are raping and pillaging that stock they have been able to leave the stocks alone on the Chatham Rise which is the true reason the stocks have increased – they haven’t caught any.

This so called great success and recognition for a fishery that was in real trouble in the early 1990’s is another MPI PR scandal.

Can you really believe anything

the MPI state when their PR machine writes a whole lot of dribble to make a bad scenario look good?

The moment you see them trying to justify this fishery of such a slow growing fish (50 years to maturity) by adding 53 million dollars when they are caught to the economy you can see that they not interested in the sustainability of the fish stocks they are just counting the dollars.

The MSC certifier is MRAG America Inc, is the certifier and also part of USA who are the receivers of the fish – can you smell the rat?

Again, we can let them selfmanage these fish because commercial are the only stake holder group that harvest them.

Therefore they do have a very accurate record of catch because it is in their best interests to do so.

Also they have overfished the fishery before and would surely, for selfpreservation sake want to avoid another 25-year rebuild of the stock.

The opposite however is true for the inshore fishery because the recreational catch is not recorded and never should be, not ever. Because of this the total catch record for the inshore fishery is inaccurate so they cannot ever receive an MSC certification. The only reason that the commercial want recreational catch monitored is so they can get MSC certification on the inshore fishery. This is definitely a no-go.

The inshore export fishery cannot ever receive MSC certificate, and clearly should not or ever be an export fishery.

Koura found floating in Putaruru stream A fisherman witnessed “thousands” of dead and dying koura floating down the Oraka Stream near Putaruru.

“I have spent over an hour here now and there has been a constant flow of them. It’s shocking, there are literally thousands and thousands stumbling past,” he said.

“They are semi-alive but obviously a whole colony has been wiped out by something because there are even really tiny ones.”

“The water is not as clear as it can be but it could just be from the rain we had yesterday, other than that it really looks fine,” he said.

“It’s hard to say what has caused this but I know koura are sensitive when it comes to contamination.”

He contacted DoC, the Waikato Regional Council, and had taken

samples so they could be tested.

“It is a very depressing situation because not many streams would have this amount of koura. This is not something we can wake up tomorrow and forget about, it needs to be monitored,” he said.

“They are also the main food source for trout and they are going to gorge on them. There are no trout floating by yet but I would not be surprised if they start to.”

Waikato Regional Council is continuing its inquiries into a report of many dead or dying koura floating down the Oraka Stream at Putaruru.

By the time council staff arrived on the scene they could see a smaller number of koura in the water than originally reported. They took water samples, with results expected within the next week. They also

searched the immediate area to see if they could find any obvious sign of what might be affecting the koura but found nothing.

Staff will be conducting a wider inspection of the area for potential sources of contamination.

“We’re really keen to understand what’s caused this problem for the koura,” says the council’s incident response team leader Derek Hartley.

“We haven’t seen any other signs of aquatic life being affected at this stage. Anyone seeing more dead koura or other aquatic life in the area is asked to contact the incident response team on 0800 800 401. Also, we’re keen to hear from anyone who has any information about what might have caused the problems with the koura.”

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Commercial fishers have wrong attitude A recent posting of a long liner photographed fishing legally in the Bay of Plenty and the NZ First Fishing Policy on Facebook created some healthy discussion.

The point is that while he is fishing legally he is fishing where the holiday makers are about to go in droves over the summer period. If we are going to ever work together, surely common sense would apply and to help bridge to ever widening gap between commercial and recreational this sort of ethic does not help.

Jeremy Hay Just been watching this guy pull up mostly snapper between 20 and 30cm. At the middle ground in the bay of islands. There is a finite amount of fish. It is not infinite. At this time of the year one of the busiest areas. They used to be banned in this area years ago. Which Muppet let them back in these waters.

Cyril Lawless This shows NZ first has very little understanding of NZ fisheries, both commercial and recreational. They are also saying that what someone chooses to do in their leisure time is more important than a man trying to make a living to feed and look after his family.

They also claim no commercial fishing will take place inside 12 miles, what about the myriad of inshore species caught by commercials that have little or no interest to recreational fishers.

How are they going to monitor the status of NZs inshore recreational only fishery if there are no catch statistics or effort data to compare with stocks and how will they get trends from recreational fishers who flatly refuse to fill in catch effort and landing returns?

They are also saying that commercial fishermen are the worst criminals in New Zealand and require extensive round the clock monitoring. Not even pedophiles and serial killers are required to

be monitored by both tracking and video technology as they go about their day to day activities.

From where I sit NZ first is either totally ignorant of our fisheries or stupid and trying to gather a few more votes from an ignorant public.

Fishing Outdoors Newspaper NZ First has a very good understanding of the fishery, customary, recreational and commercial. The thing is that they all go together in the above order. This is where the government and commercial have got it all wrong. There greed has put money before sustainability. They have lied and cheated and covered up many atrocities, all in the name of making money by exporting our inshore fish. They supply very little but mostly low quality fish to kiwis.

It’s hard to get fresh fillets like we used too in our fish and chip shops.

The stuff in supermarkets is crap.

There mistake is lying about the dumping, high grading and discard.

Many former commercial have left the industry through disgust at how they were forced to sign contracts which kept them quiet, now they are speaking up. Fishing Companies continue to deny these issues are happening even when caught on camera. The corrupt MPI hide and lose footage, they fail to prosecute commercial offenders, four cases in ten years. And you have the audacity to cry about this. It’s time to wake up NZ commercial fishers. Sure there are a few good commercial fishers that don’t and haven’t done this and good on them, BUT they have allowed the bad ones to continue. Therefore they are just as bad and deserve to be put out of business. Recreational fishing should be a thing that out kids and grandkids can enjoy for future generations, but if we the people allow these scumbags to continue unabated then we deserve the very worst.

Gary Morris Yeah these guys have the best policy re our oceans. I watched Winston back a twin screw launch into a berth on Russell wharf back in your day. So he knows our waters and it shows.

He’s got both of my votes next year.

Bottom of Form Adrian Parore Just men working to earn a living. Hard men working damn hard.

Bill Gibbs Should be running more hooks closer in too mate Peter Fielding Each fishing port should allow a few vessels quota to supply locally, and surrounding areas, not allow tonnage of fish, I wonder how much of quota supplied to supermarkets and dumped because who wants to pay $40kg, sensible fishing needs to be looked at, Bill Gibbs If ya want long line fish in the supermarkets you will be paying more than $40 a kg lmfao Chayne Reid Each boat only has a certain amount of quota to catch why pay for fuel to travel when you can catch it handy!

Fishing Outdoors Newspaper Whether a man makes a living out of fishing or is fishing recreationally is irrelevant. The recreational fishers use the most sustainable method of catch with the least amount of waste.

The commercial fishers go fishing with a shopping list and waste all the fish not on that list.

NZ First say no export or trawl method of harvest in the inshore fishery this is to get rid of the waste in the bulk harvesters from the inshore fishery by making them fish somewhere else.

The commercial fisher is severely monitored because they have proved that if left to manage the fishery all by themselves they will overfish and destroy the fishery just like pre-QMS.

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NZ First know that the commercial fishers of NZ are quite happy ripping off their own people. The commercial mafia has total control over supply and price of our locale

trade fish we eat. The industry by choice has an export preference that has forced us to import seafood to supply locale trade. They also put the price up in local shops

9

so we don’t consume to much fish that could be exported. There are people born today in NZ that will never eat a NZ Paua or Cray in their life time, that’s disgusting.

Whaly 270 almost unsinkable and indestructible it comes alongside.

It is far more resistant to damage than an inflatable and has a vastly longer life span. Scratches are no problem because the colour goes all the way through the material.

The hulls are very rugged, so there are no worries about punctures – you wont get a The Whaly 270 is a great general free puncture repair kit with these purpose dinghy. Great as both boats! Don’t believe me? Check out a tender for a bigger boat or as the Youtube video showing a guy a dinghy for two to get out and hitting it with a sledge hammer and do a bit of fishing or even diving. then an axe – rocks are no problem!

Like all Whalys, the 270 is an incred- The Whaly 270 can be transported ibly robust and stable boat - it’s on a standard domestic trailer almost unsinkable and indestruct- due to the fact that you can just ible! These boats are made from slide it onto the trailer without high-grade plastic (Polyethylene) fear of ripping or puncturing it. using a rotomoulding process that A further safety feature is the fact means that the boat is made in one that Whalys are double hulled so piece so that there are no joins. should some unthinkably powerThe boat is low-maintenance and ful impact pierce it, the Whaly will is produced in 100% colour-fast, still float and the hole can be simUV-stabilized polyethylene – just ply repaired by plastic welding. You like the common fishing kayak that cannot swamp them. Even if they has become so popular these days. get filled up completely with water Polyethylene has some great ad- you can still motor along with it. vantages over other materials. Soft- Whalys are also renowned for their er than fibreglass and resistant to large interior space. The 270 has abrasion, it tends neither to damage a larger interior volume than an initself against jetties nor other boats flatable of the same length due to

Whoops Last month we incorrectly quoted Carl Carrington CEO of Moana NZ. When in fact the report was incor-

rect and should have read “The Company says it has been designed to minimize the environmental impact of trawling. It has advanced bird protection measures and a modular net system that corrals the fish in the water, meaning they

the cut out design of the pontoons with a seating design which also gives a dryer ride and more security especially for young children. Add to that a handy anchor well in the front, complete with lid, and you end up with a tidy uncluttered boat.

The Whaly is fitted with a grab line.

This super strong life line around the top of the boat is for passenger safety and also to use as carrying handles. Unlike an inflatable’s loose beckets though, this life line provides genuine security. There is no fear of these handles tearing off like an inflatable.

A boat this practical should be for the serious-minded but instead it turned out to be a fun package. This is not an offshore boat but the hull has useful deadrise and coped well with inshore chop and assorted wakes.

Although the obvious role for the Whaly is as a tender, it would fit the bill for most things you do with an open boat and divers would favour the low sides; the phenomenal stability is just as acceptable for inshore fishing as it is for passenger carrying.

The 270 is available in various colours, white, grey, and blue.

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are in a more rested state when they are landed on the vessel. Offal is stored on board to be released when not trawling; discharging below rather than above the water so there is no “free lunch” for sea birds.”

We apologize for this error.

WHALY – all the advantages of an inflatable – without the worry and maintenance

270 - A great, general purpose sized dinghy

435 -the ultimate for size, and performance

210 - ideal as a tender

370 – for the serious fisher/diver/work boat

310 - the bigger brother of the 270

Tired of having to pump up your inflatable every few days? Worried about the kids puncturing your inflatable on the rocks?

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10

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Makowhai magic – overcoming all odds years to get into hunting, The navigation part of the course and to shoot a deer, when is always popular as it’s held in the the Fishing and Outdoors outdoors, with good visibility usNewspaper found out. ing a map and compass, covering We had the occasion to navigation in the outdoors in encourage the Thames poor visibility and difficult terValley Deerstalkers take rain; and day trips into wilderness on the task of putting areas using off track tramping the family through an in- skills, along with how to use a GPS. tensive bushcraft course. During the course the group packed Those people that know into a Bush Hut where they carried this young man will real- out practical navigation and map This is a story of a champion club ize that his prior activity reading where they also received and proof that our kiwi com- to the accident makes this injury instruction on Campsite selection, munity willingly get in behind especially devastating for a young how to set up camp; Site selection; anyone with the desire to achieve man well used to high energy activi- flooding, water flow areas, ponding, what some would call impossible. ties. Mountain Biking was a favour- shelter, away from dead trees etc, as Deer culler Brian Neilson glassing the open tops while travelling between Would you believe that any- ite family activity and, prior to his well as other aspects of bushcraft huts in the Karangarua valley in the winter of 1967. one with a handicap or dis- accident, he spent most of his free like Camp etiquette; Camp hygiene; ability would be able to go and time mountain biking around the Ethics; Fire and cooker safety; How shoot a deer if they want to? local tracks and trails, especially en- to deal with emergencies; Basic With the help and commitment joying trips over to the trails in the first aid; what to do if someone is of the Thames Valley Deerstalkers Redwood Forest in Rotorua, with his lost, ill or injured and many other Club, Maureen Coleman (Presi- family and friends, most weekends. aspects used in our outdoors. dent) and Brian Neilson at great He along with his father attended The course culminated with a final personal cost, ably helped and the Thames Valley Deerstalkers hunting weekend where trainees assisted a young chap with a seri- HUNTS Course run over several were able to put into practice what ous handicap to achieve and tick months. The course is aimed at they had learnt during the course. shooting a deer off his bucket list. beginners to our outdoors and Some adaptive hunting equipment The story began several years ear- includes an introduction to hunt- was sourced, and adapted to assist lier when this young fellow aged ing, Ethics and Ecology which ena- in firing a rifle 14 years was enjoying a moun- bles the trainee to set individual which allowed tain bike ride with a friend on the objectives and be able to identify for some learntrails in Oropi Forest, just outside stakeholders in New Zealand out- ing techniques Tauranga, when he misjudged a doors and recognize their inter- to be adopted. jump, missed his landing point and ests – DOC, Landowners, IWI, For- Now hunting fell, hitting the ground head first. est owners MSC, SAR and other with all your Mike Bell with a couple of good 48cm gurnard out from Raglan on the West Coast He broke his neck at C4, leaving him a recreational users; obtain knowl- limbs and body tetraplegic with no movement from edge of ethics in relation to other movement is difthe shoulders down. The C4 verte- stakeholders, the environment ficult so imagine bra, being completely smashed, was and harvestable wildlife; learn an the level of diffiremoved and replaced with a bone awareness of the principles of conser- culty for this chap. graft from his hip, held in place vation and management of wildlife. We found a with a titanium plate and screws. The course also covers bushcraft, hunting block The following months were ex- river crossing, training on survival which could tremely traumatic for his family. techniques, stalking, camp cooking, easily cater for his enthusiasm to Fast forward to December 2016, shooting, gear to take and use, food shoot a deer and after discussing line before hitting our fa- after being transferred back to his required, and planning for a bush- the task at hand, the owners of vourite swimming spots. home in Mount Maunganui. His craft weekend; firearms training, Makowhai Station near Waverley This is abhor- rehabilitation continued and will marksmanship, rifle sighting and re- were more than willing to help. rent and appalling. be a lifelong commitment requir- loading ammunitions, identification Makowhai Station is 22000 Check the quality of the ing dedication and hard work. of Game Animals and some ‘how acres of hill country situated in water at coastal and For now, he is able to move to’s’ on Hunting Techniques cover- the upper reaches of the Waifreshwater swimming around using head controls ing stalking techniques; sign and totara Valley, near Wanganui. his current wheelchair. what to look for; Target and bullet Starting at sea level Makowhai Stasites throughout New on Zealand thanks to the He had been pestering his dad for placement; Meat and trophy aspect. tion climbs to 500 metres altitude new ‘Can I swim here?’ feature on environmental monitoring website Not many years ago Kiwi’s were Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA). able to head to their favourite Information on water qualswimming hole and have a swim ity from over 500 rivers, lakes, without any thought of checking and coastal beach sites all over out water quality. Not any longer. New Zealand is now more ac- There are only two places your Why the heck would the Police originally envisaged by parliaSadly the government has allowed cessible at www.lawa.org.nz. firearm should ever be inside use handguns in promoting gun ment in passing this regulation. our waterways to become cess- LAWA provides New Zealand- your home: in your safe or in your safety in NZ when they can’t even Certificate of Compliance – there is pits and in some cases have ig- ers with more accessible infor- hands. Do the smart thing and look after their own handguns. no such requirement at law in the nored and refused to take action. mation about natural resources. keep it locked up. Engage Safety. Have they found the Glock that Arms Act 1983 or Arms Regs 1992 Local bodies have become The ‘Can I swim here?’ feature The current NZ Police Firearms was recently lost in Hamilton yet? that refer to this being a requirement. bogged down in their own di- provides a guide to water qual- Safety advertisement is a joke. It And recently a police car was POL67n is a police issued doculemmas and are franticly giving ity based on the results of bacte- appears that many firearms offic- stolen with firearms in the boot. ment and guideline only. It is not away our water to iwi and for- rial monitoring done by regional ers make up the rules as they go. It’s pretty clear from those on the law in regards to security reeigners while we at home suffer. and unitary councils during sum- The NZ Police should enforce the select committee the NZ po- quirements for an endorsed licence.

Many of our waterways mer at popular swimming spots. the law on illegal possession and lice have no desire to work con- An engineer’s certificate in regards are now unswimmable. For lakes and freshwater sites, E. ‘bloody leave good honest kiwi gun structively with firearm owners. to a safe is not a legal requirement.

Now the government slaps us all coli bacteria levels are determined, owners’ alone!!! but no they won’t... We are undoubtedly the most A safe does not need to be made in the face with this new App and and for coastal sites, the levels of The Police tend to use more scare- conscientious people in the of 6mm steel it needs to be sound. encourage us to do our surfing on- enterococci bacteria are measured. mongering tactics directed at country and have passed vet- The police cannot refuse to isthe uninformed Public. Using a ting many police officers and “B” Endorsement firearm in its soldiers wouldn’t even pass. safety campaign is disgusting. If the licenced firearms holder, who Considering the vetting and train- was a fit and proper person, preing which goes into holding a B En- sented to a member of the Police dorsement, current firearms owners a safe or steel cabinet which was would say these endorsement hold- objectively of ‘sound construcers are the most safety conscious. tion’ and the police either refused Look up the legislation on the to inspect it or refused to issue a government website; this is licence or endorsement because at the Thames Valley Deerstalkers premises, what you have to abide by. it did not, for the time being, meet Police look at themselves as their specific policy and specific Paeroa. the law, they are not, and definition of ‘sound construction’, This reunion is only open to NZ Deercullers Assn they are minions of the law. the onus would then shift to the Members.

Law is made by acts of Parliament. police to prove that the safe was in Police interpret the law as they see fact not of sound construction, as fit for their own propose. Is this an the firearms licence holder has met The group who are spearheading this reunion are: abuse of your power by the NZ Police? the requirements under the Act. Andy Leigh, Brian Neilson, Fred Dickson, The majority of gun crime is The police must act reasonably at Jock Spinks and Shaun Neustroski. committed with sawn off shot- all times, and imposing conditions, guns or airsoft pistols. Rarely if policies and rules surrounding the at all with semi-automatic rifles. definition of what is, or is not, ‘sound If anyone is able to assist or help out with anything The great majority of firearm construction’ is unreasonable. at all during this time, owners in this country use their They cannot change or make up law. or being prepared to put their hand up for other jobs firearms in a safe and lawful The police cannot impose a highas they come along. manner and have no problems. er standard than this that was

Online guide to safe swimming launched

and includes numerous streams and lakes, working farm land, native bush and regenerating manuka, 200 kilometres of farm track.

Accommodation is in their rustic Shearers Quarters which is used as the base, for hunting for wild pigs, fallow deer, goats, or you can fish for trout and eels.

Makowhai provide the hunting guide who with his knowledge of the animals and farm takes you to within shooting distance.

They encourage people with disabilities that have a desire to shoot or hunt to take advantage of what Club’s like the Thames Deerstalkers have to offer.

Some of the things that can be taken for granted by the able bodied sportsman are life-changing events for this segment of the population: learning to shoot again, being in the wilderness, or just witnessing animals in the wild.

The Thames Valley Deerstalkers know the importance of outdoor recreation and how it can have a tremendous impact on the quality of life for people with disabili-

ties. They have developed a program and resources for helping challenged individuals with their outdoor adventure ambitions.

To be involved in making someone’s dreams come true everyone involved deserves a bow and a big thank you.

Although expensive, the available equipment makes it possible to practice shoot and hunt recreationally.

If it’s not in a safe, it’s not safe

Deercullers Reunion 9-12 March 2017

Please email - ring Jock Spinks on 07 862 4883 or Brian Neilson 027 8910958 or brianneilson@xtra.co.nz

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sue/renew a firearms licence or endorsement on the basis that they believe that a safe is not up to their defined standard.

There is no lawful mechanism or lawful right for the police to inspect, carry out an audit, or security inspection of your ‘A’ category firearms or storage at all at any time for the renewal of a firearms licence at all.

They have no legal right to photograph your firearms or security at any time during an inspection or renewal process.

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Reasons for concern about aerial 1080 poisoning - Part Three Many reasons to be concerned about the widespread use of aerially distributed food baits containing 1080 poison (sodium monofluoroacetate) for pest control in New Zealand are evident in scientific publications and government reviews and reports which the Department of Conservation, Ospri and TBFree NZ are ignoring. Dr Jo Pollard, a scientist with a background in animal behaviour, ecology and reviewing has written this document which we are publishing in abbreviated form in three parts.

The exact wording and references can be found in the original review document http://1080science.co.nz/ aerial-1080-poisoning-in-newzealand-reasons-for-concern/ Dr Jo Pollard completed a BSc (Hons) in Limnology, Ecology, Applied Ecology and Animal Behaviour, then a PhD in Animal Behaviour. As a scientist at Invermay Agricultural Centre from 1989-2004, Jo researched farm animal welfare and management, publishing 33 journal papers and 27 technical papers including commissioned reviews. Since then she has completed contract work for AgResearch, Massey University and Telford while running a business, an animal charity and researching 1080.

Continued from December 2016 issue.

Problems with 1080 use (continued) 5.

Lack of science behind its use by TbFree NZ While much has been made of the issue of possums transmitting bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) to domestic cattle there is still no empirical evidence that this has ever happened and no known mechanism of transmission. Nevertheless, mathematical models have been used by the Animal Health Board (now known as TbFree NZ) to guide poisoning operations on a massive scale. In 2015, 10.5 million hectares were under vector pest control targeting possums, typically aerial 1080 poisoning at five-yearly intervals, to keep possums below a critical density assumed to prevent Tb transmission.

According to Livingstone no proof of any Tb infection in possums in an area to be poisoned is required, it just needs to be suspected. The Biosecurity Act (1993) allows wide scale poisoning to be forced upon land owners wherever an authorised officer “considers” it to be “necessary or expedient”.

Control measures implemented to reduce Tb infection rates in livestock have involved widespread 1080 poisoning aimed at possums, and supplemented with tuberculin testing and slaughtering of testpositive stock. Whether the use of 1080 has contributed anything is questionable given the evidence cited: “The unique and perverse nature of bovine tuberculosis (Tb) in New Zealand has also made it difficult to show clear benefits of poisoning possums when seeking to reduce the incidence of Tb in livestock …examples are needed as unfortunately Hohotaka… is the only documented example with an experimental control, and most scientists will not be willing to generalise from one example. No doubt more evidence will accumulate with time.”

“Within two years of such possum control [around farms in Buller in the 1970’s] TB in cattle had dropped

to very low levels, strongly implying that possum control had largely stopped TB transmission from possums to cattle. This pattern and response to control was also observed in other places in the 1980s, leaving no need for further scientific confirmation.”

The foundational assumptions on which the poisoning regime is built are proving to be inappropriate, for example transmission rates between possums have been found to be far lower than assumed and possum density is not well correlated with possum Tb infection rates. The goal of eradication of Tb from possums has been described as needing “better understanding” of “a number of eco-epidemiological issues, all of them complex and difficult.”

Two recent publications highlighted that other wildlife such as pigs and ferrets which can spread Tb should be considered in efforts to manage the disease.

Pigs may be poorly controlled by aerial 1080 and increase numerically due to pig hunters avoiding poisoned areas. Ferrets may increase numerically and extend their ranging behaviour following aerial 1080 poisoning operations.

Meanwhile management of Tb in livestock is poor due to reliance on a tuberculin skin and blood test that has the potential to produce both false positive and false negative results. False positive reactors are slaughtered unnecessarily and can cause unnecessary herd movement restrictions. The false negative problem creates a risk of allowing TB to persist in a herd and may be responsible for the sudden re-emergence of Tb. Other factors which can contribute to Tb emergence include feed stress, poor hygiene and contaminated pasture.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s report on 1080 stated under “What this report does not cover ...the Animal Health Board’s action in controlling bovine tuberculosis (TB) in any detail.” Nevertheless the Animal Health Board released the statement: “Hopefully such a comprehensive report will reassure the New Zealand public that the carefully-regulated use of biodegradable 1080 to control predatory pests, such as possums, is not only safe, but necessary.”

Further clouding of the truth was evident when Tb management was reviewed in 2015 and it was claimed that two “independent” science reviews had been commissioned for this.

In fact two of the three authors had been involved with Tb research in New Zealand.

Alternatives Historically, scientific publications have called for alternatives to 1080: -“1080 is too dangerous for general use.”(Barnett & Spencer 1949, p. 429); -“Because control operations utilising 1080 may induce bait shyness, are only temporarily effective, and often create favourable conditions for noxious animals by reducing competition, and releasing nesting sites and feeding areas this Council believes that alternative means of dealing with problem animals should be investigated” (Harris 1977, p. 2) (New Zealand Nature Conservation Council); -“...until better methods of largescale control [for possums] are developed, 1080 is perceived to be an essential tool...” (Eason 1997, p. 57);

However in recent years authorities including the New Zealand Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment have encouraged acceptance: -“The only option for controlling possums, rats and stoats on almost all of the conservation estate is to drop poison from aircraft.” (Wright 2011, p. 67) (Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment); -“Emerging issues include the need for… maintenance and more public support for mammal pest control or eradication, especially where this involves toxins (e.g. the Predator Free New Zealand initiative).” (New Zealand Royal Society 2014, p. 5).

The current drive for continued aerial poisoning disregards the success of ground control operations in quelling rat plagues, the wide uptake of “Goodnature” self-resetting traps, new technology (e.g. image recognition, GPS, remote) and developments in species-specific ground control. There is excellent potential for ground-based commercial pest harvesting to carry out initial possum control, thereby reducing overall costs and supporting local communities. A strong market exists for possum fur and pest meat for pet food was identified as a particular niche where New Zealand has strength and opportunity.

TbFree NZ had contingencies to use bTB vaccines for livestock and wildlife, developed in case poisoning was banned. Tb in livestock could be managed along with other livestock diseases by the Ministry for Primary Industries, possibly by culling the few remaining infected herds and providing management advice on preventing re-infection, along with monitoring focussed largely at abattoirs and the freezing works (FATE 2016).

Regardless of the technique used to manage invasive pests, a sound ecological approach with robust monitoring is required. Without this even ground control of pests may have devastating effects. For example, rats became very abundant after the Department of Conservation implemented stoat trapping in the Eglinton Valley and stoat trapping in the Hurunui and Hawdon areas was followed by rat plagues and declines in rare mohua and parakeet (Cyanoramphus malherbi) numbers.

There is compelling evidence that the science underpinning the aerial use of 1080, for either Tb control or conservation, is unsound.

Much of New Zealand’s ecological heritage is probably far better left alone: “The hardy species are the ones that have survived on the main islands for at least a hundred years in company with the whole range of predators and other habitat changes, and therefore are able to come to some sort of terms with them.... What conditions do they require? Simply to be left alone in their natural habitat, and enough of it. In the long run, the continued survival of any species genotype is impossible outside the habitat to which it is adapted”.

There is much unknown about 1080 poison but it is clear that the practice of aerial spreading it with food baits kills rare birds and causes severe ecological upheaval, favouring invasive, fast breeding pest species. There is an urgent need to bring scientific methodology into pest management. The following course of action is suggested: 1. Cease aerial 1080 poisoning immediately.

2.

Commission independent reviews of: a) Current threats to native ecological systems. b) Options for bovine tuberculosis management in NZ. 3. Establish a wholly independent scientific advisory board to: a) Develop management plans for native ecological systems. b) Oversee the implementation of management plans. c) Oversee independent, landscape-scale, on-going monitoring to assess effects of management on ecological systems.

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Failed Tbfree Campaign Seeking Feedback TBFree are now inviting feedback on their failed 2017 national plan for TBfree pest control operations.

The consultation document and details about how to make a submission are available at www. tbfree.org.nz/have-your-say.aspx.

The document outlines the proposed pest control operations in support of the National Pest Management Plan for 2017.

It also outlines the approach taken

by OSPRI in relation to engagement for the TB management and eradication programme.

The consultation period runs through to Friday 24 February 2017 and there are a number of ways to make a submission, including an online submission form.

During the consultation period they will be meeting with key stakeholder groups and interest groups to get their feedback on the document. As part of this they plan to host a series of information sessions in operational areas where there is likely to a high level of public and community interest.

Although to avoid questions and to escape from scrutiny the meetings are likely to be advertised at short notice and at times and places where few people will be able to attend.

OSPRI believes that it is important to undertake effective and timely consultation but they haven’t done this themselves in the past which makes the proposal pretty hypocritical.

This may provide an opportunity

for people and organisations interested in, or affected by, our pest control operations, including landowners and land users, farmers, hunters and recreational land users to discuss any concerns they may have regarding the proposed operations. They are unlikely to take any notice of these concerns but by legislation are required to consult.

If you have any immediate questions or comments please contact consultation@ospri.co.nz. It is unlikely that you will get a response or correct answer but they will endeavour to sidestep the question and forward a political response.

They encourage you to share this with relevant or other interested stakeholders.

Game trophy export levy proposed Associate Minister of Conservation, Peter Dunne, has released a public consultation document on the proposal to establish a game trophy levy under the Game Animal Council Act 2013.

The proposed levy would apply to game trophies being exported from New Zealand and the revenue would be used to fund the operations of the Game Animal Council as per the Game Animal Council Act 2013.

What a joke, poison the trophy deer with 1080 then ask overseas hunters to pay a levy to export trophies. Rex Forrester would turn in his grave at what DOC and others have done to this industry, forty years plus ago the New Zealand government and Air New Zealand helped bring in overseas hunters and fishermen now they hinder hunters and fishers by killing trout and deer with carcasses

found polluted in our waterways.

The intention of the government was that the GAC would be selfsupporting like a Crown Entity and that the levy was an important part of this. This is just a money grabbing exercise by the government.

This has to be our biggest priority.

The terms of reference for the project were discussed. Some of the terms and detail in the ‘issues to be addressed’ section were queried, saying it shouldn’t be necessary to have to go through the process of justifying the levy again as this had already been undertaken prior to the passing of the GAC Act in 2013.

“This public consultation begins an opportunity to collaborate with the sector on a proposal that seeks to secure funding for the Game Animal Council, an organization that is pivotal for supporting and

advocating for key issues alongside commercial and recreational hunting stakeholders,” Mr Dunne said.

“This consultation is about ensuring that we can collect the views of all the people and industries who engage in the hunting community, listen to what they have to say and work collaboratively with everyone involved to find the optimal path forward that will strengthen the recreational hunting sector’s ability to advocate for key issues into the future.

“Any individual or group is encouraged to provide feedback to this consultation document,” said Mr Dunne.

Consultation on the proposed export levy will close at 5pm 13 February 2017.

To make a submission, visit www. doc.govt.nz/gac-game-trophy-levy

12

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The Shifting Sands of the Political Landscape Sucking more waterways dry!

the proposal off the ground including whether or not they can

by Political Correspondent Rupert Pye get the water and whether it is When will it end! When all cent dairy support and wintering, included in OTOP’s water plan.

As its election year, “Fishing and change,” wrote Bissett and com- died by unprecedented in-flows the waterways are stuffed? 10.8 per cent arable and horticul- National MP for Rangitata and AsOutdoors” is running this col- mented about “the ruination of our of migrants particularly Asian. NZ A $226 million scheme to pipe ture, and 3.3 per cent deer farms.” sociate Minister for Primary Inumn giving an up-to-date of waterways and gutting the RMA.” First again was very vocal on this. water from Lake Tekapo has The proposal is to extract water dustries Jo Goodhew said she the political scene during 2017. What Bissett did not comment on The RMA reforms will embrace En- been proposed to help 17,000 from the lake about 10km north supports any irrigation project e welcome former political journal- were issues like mismanagement of vironment Minister Nick Smith’s ha of “water-starved” farms of the township, or from the that can sustainably bring ecoist Rupert Pye, retired here from sea fisheries with an inept Ministry wish to have river quality down- in central South Canterbury. Tekapo River below Fork Stream. nomic benefits to the region. overseas, who will give monthly of Primary Industries and incompe- graded from ‘swimmable’ to ‘boat- This marginal country will never The steering group, made up of Irrigation New Zealand chief rundowns and assessments. tent ”fisheries” ministers in David able and wadeable.’ The legacy be suitable for the types of farm- five farmers and facilitated by the executive Andrew Curtis said Few saw John Key’s resignation Carter and the present minister Na- John Key has passed down was ing proposed without water former PrimePort chief executive he was pleased the group had coming. Who knows what the rea- than Guy dithering around and bow- poor from a NZ perspective. – what will happen in a severe and current director of Opuha Wa- taken the initiative to get feasisons were - a visible physical toll on ing to corporate companies. Here in The election for deputy-leader drought when the water levels ter Jeremy Boys, recently present- bility of the scheme analyzed. the man? Family and marital duties Hawkes Bay commercial have plun- was between Paula Bennett and will be stretched to extreme lows. ed the proposal to Environment While the price was on the upcalled? Or is there a more lucrative dered stocks beyond belief.. the “Brylcreem kid” Simon Bridges. It appears that no consideration Canterbury’s Orari, Temuka, Opihi, per limits of affordability, it overseas posting like chairman of Commercial fishermen are Simon Bridges as Minister signed is being given to our river eco- Pareora (OTOP) zone committee. was not unachievable, he said. the International Monetary Fund mostly doing nothing illegal or off foreign oil and gas exploration systems. Profits and greed are Waitaki MP Jacqui​Dean said any new Similar analysis needed to be (IMF) in the wind? Or perhaps he was if they do the ministry and min- on the public’s conservation parks put before environment concern. irrigation scheme with solutions for undertaken on feasibility of a afraid of losing the 2017 election? ister turn a blind eye to things one being the public’s biggest - Vic- “The intended irrigation area would water should always be welcome. Rangitata scheme and the posRemember the Key government such as massive fish dumpings. toria Forest Park in the Lewis Pass. comprise 48.3 per cent dairy, 20.8 The steering group would have sibility of using both water was only there propped up by the Then there is the 1080 issue with But when questioned on television per cent sheep and beef, 16.6 per to climb several hurdles to get sources for irrigation, he said. sycophantic Peter Dunne and the a growing number of New Zea- Bridges admitted he didn’t know sly self-serving cunning Maori Party. landers angry about the use of where the Victoria Park was!

John Key’ “kinda shucked” and the broad-spectrum poison that In contrast Paula Bennett has said dicator that we’re trashing our rivers. shrugged his way through kills anything that breathes oxy- growing up at Kinloch near Taupo, Our whitebait, need the same but the ‘country kid’ image gen, e.g. insects, birds, deer etc. involved a fishing and hunting upprotections that we give to indid not fool astute observers. The evangelical style of Minister for bringing. That has to be very prom- Rob Muldoon famously said, ‘When so bad, fishers have called it the troduced trout and salmon.

A Hawkes Bay columnist Bruce the Environment Nick Smith and ising news for 2017 for the one you find yourself in a hole the best worst season in living memory. We urgently need a law that Bissett wrote “in comparison to Minister of Conservation Maggie million fishing and hunting Kiwis. thing to do is stop digging,’ but it Dr Mike Joy Massey University says you cannot sell them. those who insist on seeing Key Barry describing plagues of pests The current government might would appear this Government is Ecologist says it’s because we Dr Joy has previously predicted through dollar-tainted specta- as of “biblical proportions” must even take on a new perspec- determined to dig harder and faster. have failed to look after New Zea- whitebait, and other migracles or simply can’t go beyond have given John Key some “cringe- tive on 1080 instead of the Now we find that DoC started land’s fresh water, the result be- tory fish, will disappear from the smarmy smirk that passes for worthy” spasms - that is if he cared. religious blind fervour of the current whitebait fishing sea- ing our freshwater fish starting New Zealand waters by 2050 if a smile, I’d say my bias errs in fa- Another perplexing issue was the Mr Smith and Ms Barry as ministers. son warning that some white- to disappear, 74 percent of our steps aren’t taken to limit catch. vour of the naked truth,” he wrote. foreign purchases of property in- Of course whichever party or par- bait species are as endangered freshwater species are listed as Bissett listed a few things to back up cluding high country stations. NZ ties form the government after as the kiwi. The catch has been threatened, and that’s a really clear inhis assessment - among them First and Winston Peters hit hard on the 2017 election, depends on the were Government debt “somewhere this issue and rightly so. The treaty voting public. At recent elections, between $70 billion and $120b claimed ‘gravy train’ continues too many could not be bothered more than when Key became Prime unabated causing much concern voting. Apathy it is called. If you Minister.” Wealth disparity is widen- to Kiwis who see the old New Zea- care about the fishing and hunting ing so “the top one per cent own as land as one race, not a divided one. tomorrow and did not vote, then Te Arawa is the first iwi to be allowed cies whose population has col- Te Arawa doesn’t want rush into these much as the bottom 40 per cent.” Former National leader Don Brash start taking an interest. If you were to set its own fishing bylaws under its lapsed across all of the lakes. things, and give people the impression Of particular interest to readers with his Hobson’s Pledge, tapped a non-voter and read this, you have Treaty settlement and the Te Arawa The proposed bylaws which go out to that they don’t want anyone near their of “Fishing and Outdoors” was into the growing public concern. made a good start to awakening. Lakes Trust wants only iwi members the public early next year are a mixture lakes or touching anything in our lakes. the environment. “NO action has The waters around a ‘one New catching a number of treasured species of science and traditional knowledge. It would appear that iwi are takbeen taken to address climate Zealand’ have also been mudincluding whitebait, kakahi and eels. Brown and rainbow trout which are ing matters to far and setting up a

Whitebait to disappear

Rotorua iwi to restrict fishing native species

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Ian Kusabs, fisheries scientist said that it’s a statement that we want to conserve this species.

The trust also wants to outlaw the take of the koaro, a native fish spe-

an introduced fish will not be affected.

The taonga species are not so popular among younger generation, and an iwi leaders hope the bylaws will increase awareness of Te Arawa traditions.

apartheid or separatist system in New Zealand. This is definitely not a good look for future generations.

Fish and Game refuse to comment on the bylaws.

Waikato’s Specialist Trailer Repair Workshop on Sun, 19th February 2017 Tickets: $20.00 per adult. $5.00 per child for children under 13 years of age Heaviest Snapper, 2nd Heaviest Snapper, Heaviest Kingfish, Heaviest Gurnard, Heaviest Trevally, Heaviest Kahawai and Lucky Ticket Draw Black Bean Mobile Coffee, Mr Kool Ice Cream, Sausage Sizzle, Soft Drinks, WPBC sponsors raffle.

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Alternate date if postponed will be Sunday 5th March

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View the newspaper online at www.fishingoutdoors.org – and advertise online with us

The KwikKraft 661 Hardtop is a fantastic addition to the offshore range offering an affordable entry level hardtop.

With its rugged good looks, exceptional handling and unrivalled spaciousness throughout, the 661 is a robust functional fishing platform, built to tackle the elements and handle whatever is thrown at it. Its refined lines make it safe and sure in any sea.

The LOA is 7.1m; beam 2.4m; engine 250hp; draft 0.3m; deadrise 19 deg; with a 150 litre fuel capacity.

KwikKraft alloy boats are built in Rangiora along with the Ramco range of boats and a number of large alloy boats for the Robson design. KwikKraft are also very committed to manufacturing in New Zealand as domestic and export sales continue to grow year on year.

KwikKraft’s main point of difference is that they are custom building high quality alloy boats at the top end of the market. They will not compromise these high standards of design and construction as this is what they have built there reputation on. They fully adhere to their company principal of quality and performance without compromise, they provide and hull and structural warranty based on this.

All the manufacturing and fit out work is completed in their factory along with fabrication of the alloy trailers despite the higher freight costs, exchange rate disadvantages and the general global recession the export side of the business remains very strong and continues to grow.

For its size, the 661m must be one of the most solidly constructed boats on the market today. The design also has excellent buoyancy features.

In short, the KwikKraft is built like a tank, and with good reserve buoyancy figures, the 661m rates highly in the safety stakes. Welds

are well executed and the overall finish and appearance are very smart indeed. KwikKraft takes considerable pains with construction.

You can’t have the security of heavy-duty construction and heavier-than-normal materials without paying a bit of a weight penalty.

The hull has a fine entry, variable to 19° at the transom. It has a tapered planning wedge at the stern and a single planning strake per side.

Much thought has been given to the internal layout. The cabin is fullylined, with two berths to sleep two adults comfortably. There is stowage space underneath, and in the centre a pump toilet is fitted. A portable gas cooker is enough for a hot meal and a ‘brew’ if overnighting. Also fitted is a radio and sound system, as well as cabin lights. Extra stowage is provided by two side shelves.

A sliding, locking cabin door allows gear to be secured when unattended. The helm position is protected by a canvas Bimini top with clears dropping to the ‘screen; the rear is supported by a fold-down rocket launcher. There are two levels of dash with back rails, but most of the instrumentation and electronics is flush-mounted into the console.

Seating consists of two king and queen-style seats on large bases with plenty of internal stowage.

Two hatches between the seats give access to under-deck holds that will take shallow fish bins. These (and the fore cabin step-down) are bungdrained into a bilge channel above the ballast tank, which, in turn drains to a sump under the transom, along with the sealed decks.

Full cockpit-length side pockets provide extra stowage, and movable drink holders can be clipped on as required.

Good use of space, plenty of cockpit room and some clever design features are all apparent.

The basics are all here: the ballast tank aids stability at rest or at displacement speed; there’s good footing and plenty of fishing room; and the flat gunwale faces provide mid-thigh support as well as reasonable toe room all around.

Four through-gunwale rod holders are fitted along the covering boards (two to a side) and there is room for more. The transom-mounted bait station will take three more rods. The cutting board is at a good working height, doubles as a water-toy tow point, and sports a tackle drawer underneath. A live bait tank is fitted under the transom step-through.

But given that KwikKraft mostly customize boats to prospective owners’ requirements, it is an easy thing to correct.

KwikKraft recreational and offshore boats have been exported to Australia, the Pacific Islands, Canada, the USA and many more places around the world.

The North Island agents are Phil Birss Marine who can power the boat with the outboard of your choice.

Call Phil Birss Marine, 26 Euclid Ave, Te Rapa, Hamilton, 07 849 4936; 027 473 4075 or check out online at www.philbirssmarine.co.nz

13

Whangamata Ocean Sports Club Summer fishing tournaments Our New Year Tournament is 2nd January 2017. This tournament has a focus of being for everyone with small/ large boats and includes our junior members in their own category. Target species are kingfish, snapper, terakihi, gurnard, trevally, kahawai and john dory. After the weigh in all fish are auctioned to the public with proceeds donated to Whangamata Blue

Light Charity (police youth charity).

Next up is our Nauti Girls tournament on 4th February 2017. Famous far and wide for being the most fun, well attended female contest in the country!

All anglers must be female although the boys are allowed to pilot the boat, first requirement for being a skipper is be prepared to put up with lots of teasing and happy women. Pray for

good weather for this tournament although, if fishing is not possible, the prizegiving is always fabulous. Look out for the best dressed competition with a nautical theme and a best hat contest to keep the crowd entertained.

Finally we have our Classic Tournament. Run over three days with fishing from the 9th to 11th February, this is our game fishing competition. Last

Port Waikato bar crossing capsize again highlights risks Another bar crossing mishap, this time at Port Waikato, has again highlighted the importance of wearing lifejackets while crossing and ensuring that Coastguard is contacted before and after a crossing.

Between 9am and 10am a six metre powered vessel flipped was swamped while attempting to head out across

the bar with four men aboard.

They were all wearing lifejackets and are now safe but the boat is missing.

Waikato Regional Council maritime services team leader Richard Barnett said the incident highlighted a number of issues.

“The skipper had not alerted Coastguard to the crossing. Rec-

ommended practice is to alert Coastguard beforehand and then confirm afterwards that the craft has got across safely. If the confirmation call is not made Coastguard knows there’s a potential problem.

“While crossing the bar today, the vessel was swamped by waves and all four men ended up in the water. They

Phone app helps consumers make the right fish choice ing the commercial fishing industry such as the dumping of unwanted fish and the killing of marine mammals and seabirds as bycatch.

Forest & Bird is one of the organisation’s telling the commercial fishing industry and the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) to get their acts together.

But as fishers and consumers we can also play a crucial role in ensuring there will always be good quality fish available while protecting the amazing variety of life in the oceans that surround us.

Forest & Bird’s free ‘Best Fish Guide’ phone app ranks more than 85 commercial fish species for their sustain-

There has been a lot of attention this year on problems surround-

ability, based on criteria including stock numbers, environmental damage caused by fishing methods such as bottom trawling and the bycatch of threatened and protected species.

The guide uses a “traffic light” ranking system – the most sustainable choices are given a green ranking and the rankings move through amber and orange to the red “worst choice” species.

Recently orange roughy was given a sustainability accreditation by the Marine Stewardship Council. This is in contrast to Forest & Bird’s assessment, which places orange roughy in the red category.

This is because orange roughy is

year we had a whopping 226.6kg blue marlin caught by our ex commodore, Roy Hoskin, take out the top prize. By the end of these three days there are some very tired but very happy anglers out there. With a massive prize pool and a live band to wrap up the prize giving on Saturday night, this one is essential for your fishing diary. tied themselves together and tried to raise the alarm with flares. But this didn’t work. Eventually they made it to shore after about 45 mins in the water.

“Good on the men for wearing lifejackets but the time they spent in the water highlights why Coastguard should be alerted before crossings.”

However the forty dollar question is why does the council not put up signs at boat access points and why is their advertising of the issues so poor? a long lived, late breeding species that is vulnerable to overfishing, and bottom trawling for orange roughy destroys sensitive habitats and ancient protected corals.

The good news is there’s plenty of choice for Kiwis who love their seafood but don’t have the option of catching their own. There are 42 seafood choices that pass muster, including salmon, mussels, oysters and paua (all farmed), albacore and skipjack tuna, crayfish, and cockles.

And for fishers who want to reduce their own impact when out on the water, take a look at Forest & Bird’s ‘off the hook’ guide to keeping seabirds away from bait and hooks.

Go to www.bestfishguide.org.nz to download the Best Fish Guide app.

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

2 January 2017

9-11 February 2017

New Year Tournament

A1 Homes Whangamata Classic Tournament

1st Marlin of the season

First weighed over 90kg $500 First Tag & Release $500

18-25 February 2017

NZSFC Nationals

4th February 2017

4 March 2017

Nauti Girls Tournament

Junior Game Fishing Tournament

Entry forms available on our website: www.oceansports.co.nz

Enquiries to: manager@oceansports.co.nz

2017 TOURNAMENT SEASON

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View the newspaper online at www.fishingoutdoors.org – and advertise online with us

Letters to editor Ruined Rivers - Thanks Nick!

Sir, Environment Minister Nick Smith’s recently claim that proposed RMA changes are “not rushed’ does not inspire confidence - particularly so in the light of his recent statements such as;- it was “not practical” to clean up degraded rivers, that birds were to blame for water quality declines and that water quality standards should be “boatable and wadeable” rather than ”swimmable.”

With these in mind, it makes it all the more imperative to proceed with changes to the RMA with extreme caution and full public consultation.

Just south of Christchurch, the Selwyn River’s destruction is a grim reminder that the current government is both in denial and cavalier about the public’s rivers. An article in “The Press” by Charlie Mitchell’s spelt it out – “A long stretch of the Selwyn River near Christchurch is barren. Its dry river-bed is snaked by tyre tracks, faint clues of its past as a river disappearing as it becomes a vehicle track. A beloved swimming spot downstream is stagnant. Fish and eels die in their dozens, trapped in pools evaporating around them.”

The Selwyn’s demise is tragically a classic example of the deterioration of our lowland rivers and the implausibility of New Zealand’s “100% pure, clean” tourism and export marketing slogan. As a teenager growing up in Canterbury in the 1950’s and under the guidance of the late George Ferris and other senior anglers, current NZFFA President Colin Taylor learned to fly fish on the Selwyn which was then a pure, clear and prolific fly fishing river. Its current condition of virtually dry river bed, is an example of complete

environmental

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when they catch them? Do they stop fishing? Another disgrace.

These government people like MPI must have baked beans for brains; they certainly sadly lack any signs of human intelligence.

Now with this most ridiculous idea that NZ will be totally pest free by 2050.

They don’t state any detail on how they will eradicate pests in our towns, cities and rural areas. The bureaucrats that formulate these plans need eradicating as well.

And unfortunately most hunter gatherers don’t realize that their idiots are hoping to eradicate every deer and wild pig living in these forests, and in the process most of our trout with 1080 poison, and we anglers are told do not eat the fish at all cost, another disgrace.

You ask the overseas hunting and fishing fraternity what they think of all the 1080 poisoning that’s going on in NZ, and they say our so called politicians are completely clueless.

Not a good way to boost our tourism when you consider the amount these hunters and fishers bring to our economy.

I still have a beautiful duck shooting pond in the Whangamarino swamp near Mercer. DoC poisoned every pheasant and quail (about 30 years ago) and we have both species back in big numbers now, and yet they are going to chopper the whole area very shortly with tonnes of 1080.

So goodbye ducks, pheasants and quail and all the other wildlife again.

The Kea have almost disappeared in the South Island, at the end of the day we will have nothing left thanks to the stupid bureaucrats that are supposed to be running and looking after our lovely country.

I’d love to put on lunch in the beehive supplying them with 1080 plus liquid cyanide in a few hundred filled rolls, which would put a total end to the real vermin in Aotearoa once and for all.

mismanagement. reduction is made for recreational then there should be a quota reduction for commercial.

Notwithstanding that unfair’ unjust decisions like those made with the Fisheries discrimination snapper bag limit could be addressed in new limits in the near future’ Dear Sir Recreational and customary fishing Past management of out inshore deserves an equal footing to comfishery has favoured commercial mercial and iwi. The greed has to stop. fishermen over recreational. In the Parallel to sensible management mid-1990’s and recently the recrea- is that fish need quality habitat. tional snapper bag was slashed in Along with a new culture of recthe SNA1 and Marlborough Sounds. ognition to the value of recThere was no corresponding cut reational fishing has to come a in the commercial snapper quota. Will to protect the marine enThat anomaly - call it discrimi- vironment. That has to innation - still remains today. volve not only central governSimilar discrimination remains ment but local councils as well. with set netting. Recreational set We have to protect our innetters with one 60 metre net are shore fishery for the future restricted to a four month sea- generations of young fishers. son on the grounds of protect- Bryce Jones ing dolphin. Commercial with 500 mete nets have no closed season. Records show a zero figure Clueless government for dolphins caught in recreational nets in east Marlborough. Dear Sir Recreational set netters have The more articles I read in the Fishto stay with nets. Commercial ing and Outdoors newspaper the don’t have any such requirement. more I hate the present government With Sanford’s and Moana NZ set- and their filthy habits. They are a ting a new standard it is time for disgrace in every way that’s possigovernment, ministers and the MPI ble to be. They are the real vermin to step up and recognize the value in in NZ who at all cost must be exboth monetary and health terms of terminated in every way possible. recreational fishing instead of cav- Take the Pike River disaster, if any of ing in to commercial demands these politicians had sons or fathers and accepting political bribes lying dead up in that mine there Commercial greed has taken would be every possible attempt to shortcuts to the detriment of remove the bodies, not all the sidefish stocks and this has to stop. stepping that’s been going on for a What are at fault are the sys- number of years, another disgrace. tem and the attitude of politi- MPI now have an allowable catch for cians, ministry bureaucrats and Hectors dolphin. Along with Maui the undue political power of dolphin a species nearly extinct Dick Featherstone corporate fishing companies. and only found in NZ waters and Thames Management measures should this is to protect their commercial be equally shared. If a bag limit fishing buddies. So what happens Ken Sims, Spokesman NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers

and best themed display, as well as prizes for race winners.

All boats will be checked for noxious aquatic weeds, and oil leaks before entering the water; and boaties are reminded to be aware of minimis-

ing the spread of didymo. And remember DOC has released Kiwi into the National Park very close to where the show takes place, so no antique and classic dogs please!

Commercial West Coast Dolphin Fishery New Plymouth

Whanganui

Current protection

IWC recommendation

IUCN recommendation

no gillnets no gillnets + no trawling dolphin distribution

In the attached file, the first slide shows three maps: Left: The protection we have now Middle: What the International Whaling Commission have recommended (since 2012) Right: What the IUCN have recommended (since 2012) Both IWC and IUCN have urged the NZ government to remove both gillnets and trawling from throughout Maui dolphin habitat. The IUCN goes further and says NZ should do this for Hector’s and Maui dolphins.

The second slide shows that Sanford and Moana are doing. Right now, they let 5 of the 15 boats working north of New Plymouth use Sanford and Moana ACE. From late next year they promise to ask those fishermen not to used gillnets from 7 nautical miles offshore (edge of current gillnet protection) to 100 m depth contour.

There is no way they will be able to tell where the fish was caught.

So the same fishermen who have been lying for 30 years saying they don’t catch any dolphins will now be saying to Sanford and Moana “hand on heart, I did not catch this fish in Maui dolphin habitat”. This is just not credible. It’s like me saying to a policeman I have not exceeded the speed limit this year.

For trawling they are proposing to do nothing at all. There is some vague suggestion that by 2022 they will not use “standard” trawling gear in Maui dolphin habitat.

The “precision harvesting” cod end will make no difference to dolphin bycatch at all. They have suggested that they may put escape hatches in the nets for dolphins. These do not work and simply result in lots of dead dolphins being ejected from the nets.

Out of sight, out of mind, but not a solution that will reduce the number of dolphins killed.

Top Quality Trout River Vandalized - Fish and Game Sit on Hands

by James Speedy

state, as soon as is practically possible and with the greatest care to the environment.”

Martin Langlands a long time Canterbury guide described Deep Creek as a “Blue Ribbon” trout water that held some of the best quality RainDeep Creek trout and salmon spawning habitat ruined. bow and Brown Trout in A South Canterbury back country South Island. The damage could be river has been adversely affected fixed very easily and at little cost, by by earthworks say expert anglers simply diverting the river back to its in the region who have criticized natural course which would result in the Central South Island Fish and nothing but environmental positives.

Game Council for a lack of action. Kevin Payne President of the NZ FishDeep Creek, protected by a water con- ing Guides Association, a Central servation order, was illegally diverted South Island Fish and Game Councillor in late 2011, and was never properly and fishing guide since the mid-90s fixed. Now the main channel below the was critical of Fish and Game’s attitude. diversion has run dry, resulting in the “Reasons for doing nothing given loss of salmon spawning and rearing by CSI Fish and Game do not stack habitat and removing approximately up in my opinion. CSI Fish & Game a third of this stream’s prime trout have statutory duty to look afwater. Central South Island Fish and ter our fisheries. License holders Game have refused to allow a proper have put up a substantial investfix to return the stream to its pre-di- ment to obtain a Conservation Orversion state, as asked for by anglers. der, and Fish & Game have a duty Locals are incensed. Local Fishing to protect that investment,” he said.

Guide Allan Kircher of Methven who Dean Whaanga, an experienced Cenhas fished Deep Creek since he was tral Otago fishing guide agreed the a teenager, said it was an outstand- stream needed to be fixed, and said ing trout fishing, as well as a salm- after visiting he stream recently with on spawning and rearing stream. his client that the decline was dra“It’s scenic and a largely unmodified matic and that it was ‘buggered…’ environment and I rate it as a world Steve Gerard of Methven, a former class trout fishery” he said. “It’s im- fishing guide of 12 years, tackle perative to have this stream returned shop owner and now former CSI to its former glory, its pre diversion Fish and Game Councillor, has been

campaigning for a fix since the diversion was found in late 2011, and has written comprehensive summary of the streams state and issues.

“CSI Fish and Game continue to muddy the waters with misinformation about the true state of this stream, they need to now act in the best interest of anglers and fix it,” he said.

Tony Orman, angling author and life member of the NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers said he fished Deep Creek many years ago. He described it as “a beautiful classical spring fed stream which in the UK would be worth millions of dollars”. One of the trout he caught featured on the cover of a reprint of his book “Trout With Nymph”.

“Fish and Game are sometimes guilty of forgetting they’re essentially public servants to the trout fishing licence public. This is a case of their amnesia,” he said. “They’re duty bound to protect, enhance and restore trout waters.”

The NZ Professional Fishing Guides Association was also concerned, and said the creek had long been considered a unique blue ribbon trout fishery with an international reputation, that many New Zealand and overseas anglers have had the pleasure to enjoy “Members have expressed concern about the creek and Central South Island Fish and Game’s handling of the issue, and asks that the wheels are put in motion to restore this outstanding stream to its former glory,” said the association.

NZ Antique and Classic Boatshow

and the action on the lake. This includes races for all types of craft from jet boats to rowing skiffs, highlighted by the hilarious Le Mans (beach race) start to the Seagull dinghy race.

Judging will take place on Saturday, ahead of an evening awards ceremony at the Alpine Lodge. At stake is the Jens Hansen Trophy where the judges are after good looks as well as history, construction and a boat with a story to tell.

Other awards include prizes for best new restoration, best steamboat, best jet-propelled craft

Please Alan Doak

Sleek cedar kayaks, jet boats from the 60’s, classy clinkers and veteran sailing craft…hours of effort from ‘blokes in

sheds’ will be displayed at Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes National Park on March 4 & 5 in a weekend of ‘Glorious Hydromatic Relaxation’. Displays on land until 1pm, activities and races on the lake in the afternoon, both days.

The NZ Antique and Classic Boatshow is now in its 18th year, and continues to grow in the number and quality of craft presented, as well as the number of people coming to view the boats

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Why fishing is a failed industry The commercial fishing industry has had the support of many NZ governments over the years.

Fishing has always been one of the big three, Farming, Forestry and Fishing. You could say the backbone of the NZ’s economy.

Farming has had its ups and downs but as a group has diversified itself to many shapes and sizes, with an incredible range of products that ensured its place as our top export earner. However it is unlikely to remain in the top spot as many foreign investors buying our land are the importers of our export produce.

This means they will no longer be buying NZ export produce, merely shipping NZ grown

produce they already own.

Forestry is now 85% in foreign hands and a large amount of that is exported as whole logs. The moron in Government that allowed this to happen should be tied to a tree, covered in honey and left there.

Fishing doesn’t really belong in the top three anymore, so for this exercise we will have to pretend it is still worth the effort.

The fishing industry should be our best export industry in NZ by far.

They are the ones who started with a free product that they don’t have to grow. They don’t have to prune or fertilize. They didn’t have to buy land because the ocean is free and neither did they have to buy quota

MPI cuts observer coverage The MPI in a flash of brilliance has more than halved the number of fisheries observers on the East Coast of the North Island (SNA1) snapper trawl fishery.

This is another classic example of the MPI failing to protect our fisheries to ensure they remain healthy and abundant long-term.

This deliberate reduction in observer days, combined with major failures in an unproven and controversial video monitoring system, means commercial trawlers in one of our most important fisheries are not being properly scrutinized, monitored and effectively allows them to get away with high grading and dumping.

Primary Industries Minister Guy stated in Parliament recently that only 210 observer days were allocated to SNA1 in 2015/16 with trawlers fishing for snapper on more than 1,825 days. The number of observer days MPI funded in 2015/16

is well down on the 521 observer days in 2014/15 to monitor trawlers fishing for snapper on 1,953 days.

This proves the ineffectiveness of the MPI in ensuring that they play their part in policing an industry in denial.

Giving the camera monitoring contract to Trident Systems Ltd, a company owned by 14 fishing companies, shows that the MPI is colluding with the industry, when it started video monitoring of snapper trawling in SNA1 this year and then they lost 80% of the footage. This is evidence that Trident is not independent and that monitoring must be done by an independent agency, not a company owned by the industry.

The video monitoring failed miserably in the first three months of the 2015/16 fishing year. It is completely irresponsible to slash observer days when video monitoring has yet to be proven as an effective substitute.

Observers are essential for ac-

because ownership was given to them when the QMS was introduced. That’s the same as giving somebody a farm fully stocked or a forest block with trees on, all for free.

The fishing industry thought they knew better than the farming and forestry industries. They decided it was okay to kill and sell their breeding stock to the highest bidder, and then they killed the juvenile stock, which washed up on our beaches.

As a bonus, they got to kill everything else that lived on or in the ocean that got in their way, dolphin, seabirds, seals and so on.

Show me the money, you would expect that with the gift of the fishery to the industry, that curate reporting of fish species landed, by-catch of protected wildlife such as dolphins and seabirds, fish dumping, and avoiding undersized fish and nonquota species being caught.

Recent industry admissions on social media that cutting unwanted fish and throwing them overboard so they sink is widespread and an everyday practice.

The East Coast snapper fishery is a highly valued recreational and commercial fishery. Snapper stocks have declined and effective monitoring and accurate reporting is an essential part of fisheries management.

MPI estimates the annual cost of observer coverage for inshore fisheries such as snapper at $9.5 million annually and as the National Government strives to save money through its budget blowouts, the haste to dispense with observers may be partly due to Government and industry pressure to reduce its costs.

Yet in its “The Future of Our Fisheries” consultation document MPI says fisheries observers have been

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15

the benefits to NZ’s economy would be substantial, but no.

The fishing industry produces about the same value to our economy as the wine industry of NZ, except the wine industry of NZ didn’t kill every living creature to make a vineyard whereas the commercial fishing industry did.

The wine industry has an excellent clean green image and takes wonderful pictures of this to market itself to the finest restaurants of the world.

The fishing industry has its wonderful photos which comprise images of floating fish, dead birds and dolphin caught in nets. Even the BBC has ‘Dead Maui Dolphin’ on file for the next time the industry gets caught with its pants down.

Is the commercial fishing industry really worth the damage it cause’s? No not really.

The Director of Fisheries Management David Turner indicated that if they could find the magic bullet to fix the inshore fishery they would all go broke. Is this an admission by MPI that they are not attempting to genuinely find solutions? Changing legislation to allow the wasteful practice to continue shows how corrupt the MPI are in colluding with the industry.

Our wonderful MPI, the managing body of the fishery has changed legislation to suit the barbaric fishing and disposal methods industry use, thereby allowing the industry to continue wasteful practices legally, in an attempt to avoid public backlash and help them with their failing clean green image which the industry itself created.

Meanwhile their PR machine is frantically putting commercials on main

stream media in an aborted attempt to convert public opinion, except their PR machine hasn’t yet worked out that everytime they open their mouths they make it worse.

If we really want to impress the world by leading the way, we need to go back to local fishers catching fish for local trade and that’s it.

It’s more than clear from the Westpac report released in March that the fishing industry here has failed both economically and ecologically and failed miserably.

The Tourist industry is now our biggest industry and the value of a fish sold to a tourist in NZ makes the fishing industry look like the truly pathetic, wasteful, ungrateful, unsustainable industry that it is.

a crucial part” of the commercial fisheries sector for the last 30 years.

This recognition on the importance of observers in providing accurate information for fisheries management makes a mockery of the MPI when they turn around and cut the number of observer days.

Fisheries observers spend days at sea, recording species, quantity, size, age, and condition of fish and other aquatic life brought on

board the boats. This also includes info on protected species such as dolphins, seabirds and seals that are caught as a result of by-catch.

Working in cramped and often difficult conditions recording and reporting on what commercial vessels catch, the observers are susceptible to bribes and instances of observers being ‘lost at sea’ believed to be for not turning

a blind eye has been disturbing.

Most of these murders are unsolvable as evidence is difficult to find.

The Heron Report proved that the MPI failed to follow up on fish dumping and other illegal activity reported by observers and yet now we find that they are cutting observers.

The Fisheries Management and Compliance arms of the Primary Industries is a disgrace.

Oceans Dead Zone threat to fisheries A 60,000 square kilometre dead zone, devoid of oxygen and life, has been discovered in discovered in the Indian Ocean to the west of Australia.

Similar zones have been found off the coasts of North and South America, Western Africa and the Arabian Sea, but this is the first time one has been found so close to our waters.

In the Bay of Bengal microbes are poised and ready to remove lots more nitrogen than they do, but studies

have found that the trace amounts of oxygen keep them from doing so.

Once the last traces of oxygen evaporate, the Bay of Bengal could become ‘a major global player’ in taking nitrogen out of our oceans.

This could have a severe impact on marine nutrient balances, and therefore the density of marine life.

Dead zones are normally associated with a lack of oxygen and concentrations of microbes stripping the vital

nutrient nitrogen out of the water.

And traces of oxygen have been found - at levels 10,000 times lower than normal air-saturated surface waters.

While this is less than is needed to support most life, it also impedes nitrogen-harvesting microbes.

This could have a severe impact on marine nutrient balances, and therefore the density of marine life.

It is feared increasing levels of fertilizer feeding into the oceans from high intensity population centres will result in the last of this oxygen being absorbed.

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DIDYMO DAVE’S REPORT

Writing my monthly column in the last days of 2016 I thought I would reflect on what the Te Awa o Waitahanui team has achieved in 2016.

This project was started several years ago when I met a group of young Maori lads at Waitahanui who were keen to look after the Waitahanui River. Initially we started a trapping programme for vermin to help the native birds and then we expanded it out to include non-native plant and tree control. In addition a social side developed including spending time fishing, playing pool, going swimming and generally having fun.

Social Services such as Child Youth and Family, Police youth aid, schools etc also asked if they could refer young men to spend time with the team and I have spent a lot of time in 2016 working on the Waitahanui River with young men who are in trouble. In addition some parents have contacted us and asked if their sons could be part of the team as well. It is worth noting that in all the time I have spent on the river with these young men, not once have I had any trouble with any of them.

So what’s happened in 2016? Well we ended the year having trapped over 200 Rats in total and together

with the Stoats and Weasels we have a total vermin trapped count of 258. I suspect we will need to get up around the 500+ mark before a noticeable difference can be seen in native bird numbers but the view of locals is that the number of Scaup in the lower river has rocketed up.

Willows were a big target for us this year. In the lower river there was a site where the willows were so thick on a bend that the majority of the water flow was going on the inside of the bend due to the willows blocking the flow. In February we got into the river and cut the willows out leaving a stump approx 6 inches above the water which we then gelled.

Then in the autumn when the willows were dead we removed a lot of the stumps from the riverbed. All the willow branches and stumps were dragged away and neatly stacked on the banks and while we have more work to do to finish the job in 2017 at least the river is flowing as it naturally should do. One of the highlights of this project for the team was watching the process of removing the willows which allowed the river to flow naturally and as a result the big quantities of silt that had built up below the willows is clearing and the

true shingle riverbed is reestablishing.

Upstream from the main road bridge we continued our clearing of an area full of blackberry, honeysuckle, wild cherry and all sorts of weeds. This is quite a large area and will take a few more months to clear completely.

There are some native trees buried in among the weeds and watching the young ones Clear around them and look after them as carefully as they do is quite special. The plan is to clear this area, then spray the re growth till we have control of that and then replant with natives in autumn 2018.

Mouhlenbeckia is a native vine that is present in the river valley and in several places we have been working to control that. In places on the riverbank where the vine is growing up into the trees we have gone through and cut it back to a height of approx 1 metre but not killed it. This has freed the trees from a heavy vine while allowing the vine to spread horizontally along the riverbanks where it appears to be smothering blackberry and providing cover for the trout.

The first 3 years of this project was tough financially but we are now getting more support as the project develops more momentum. We are grateful to Tom Mounsey from Tau po law firm Malcolm Mounsey Clarke for the legal work he has done in setting up the Te Awa o Waitahanui Charitable Trust. The Rise Film Festival also donated some of the profits from that evening to the project and we are grateful for that. Sarah Delaney from Spice rs Financial Services approached us this year, Spicers were looking to support a community project and chose this project which we are very grateful for.

Currently we are expanding the number of vermin traps from 70 up to 150 and we are grateful to Tenon and Bunnings for helping with trap

building materials. We are also grateful to Waikato Regional Council small initiative fund for funding for trap mechanisms and to the Turangi -Tongariro Community Board and Craters of the Moon for supporti ng the expansion of the trapping programme.

Special thanks go out to Graham Carter, editor of Fishing and Outdoors

paper for all his support. Graham has given us free advertising and recently set up a “Give a Little” facility for people to donate to this project and believe me given the amount of weeds and vermin in the Waitahanui River valley we have an enormous restoration job ahead of us.

If anyone would like to have a site

visit to see what is being achieved I would be happy to show you and explain the DREAMS and GOALS this team of young men have. Contact Didymo Dave on 027 240 9603.

Wishing you all a prosperous 2017.

HAWKES BAY SNAPPER PART 2

By Stephen Waerea

The boys from “Swollo it” bait and berley are doing well out wide on the snapper.

Well it’s November and I’m happy to say the fish are back in the bay, Snapper and Gurnard with thick schools of Kahawai gorging themselves with bait, priming them for the spawning season. But the trawlers have wind of these easy pickings and are in force working the shallow grounds of the Bay to the north.

It seems that every year labour week end falls on Hawke Bay day which means we get a four day week end. In these parts, this is the time I book a ten day holiday and go fishing as I do every year.

The weather is usually pretty stink over labour weekend and stink it was for boating but the clouds de-

good to use berley in these parts with great success when on the mud especially when chasing Gurnard, but it was an early horse snapper I was after on that particular day.

Didn’t take to long for number one rod to buckle over in her rod holder with some good blistering runs then a decent Snapper popped up on the surface, a quick scoop with the net then high five’s all round.

Managed a few Kahawai for the next hour with a few red cod amongst the rod bending high paced action.

We’d decided to call it out and made an executive decision to move back south to spot X in twenty metres to try our luck, for a few horse size Gurnard to add to the bin and add we did.

We’d been out a few more times since and the fishing front is heating up

parted eventually and I managed to get Wainui (my boat) out on the briny and get amongst some action from the water’s to the north of Napier, some 55 litres of petrol away in the old fibreglass 5m convertible.

There were bird’s bombing soon as we were out of the boat channel from Napier, fish were constantly breaking the surface in all directions for the whole boat trip across to Wairoa. A true moment of mass fish aggregation of the beaches was before me once again in what is known as the depleted inshore fishery of Hawkes Bay. Upon arrival first things first after dropping the anchor and that’s the good old berley pot, it’s always Few tasty snapper about.

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Hannah with her first rat king fish.

but it won’t last long, as the trawlers are out there taking the easy pickings.

This article say’s ‘Part Two - not bloody fishing report and a rant about trawlers so I guess I should get on with

it then and carry on from the last issue’s article off a snapper fisherman we ran into on the eastern side of Clive when we were youngers.

It was like it was yesterday some seventeen years ago when we were A slaying the local coming back from Kahawai population down at the river mouth and there he was a lone surfcaster acting calm and relaxed with his three or four snapper on the beach. Up until then my mates and I only caught little ones off the rocks around Perfume Point and the wharves of Napier.

To stop and talk to this older local fisho armed us with his knowledge of power of March being the best time to land good size snap’s in good numbers off the beaches of Napier. We didn’t hang

round that evening but were back the next day and the following weeks. After that evening of talking to this older chap on the beach, boy we caught more than our fair share in those short weeks. Just Snapper in good solid proportions from all angles but it was the freshly caught big yellow eye mullet butterflied as bait that secured the big Snaps for this mad keen land based mate that I’d fished with as a kid boy.

He has landed some real fish, a complete fanatical big game land based fishermen.

He prefers steal traces for the big boys. We don’t target them like we used to back then anymore. The big one’s are better left in the ocean, I’d always just use the old reliable

ledger rig, and later have upgraded to flasher rig with a couple of chunks of pilchard on the hooks.

If the waves were up we’d use the breakaway sinker, but on them dead flat calm days just a nice little four ounce ball sinker does the job, sweet.

It gives the bait a nice natural presentation when presented to the fish.

Today I am a boat fisherman. There is fish to be caught off the beaches around the bay still but I don’t surf cast locally anymore my thirst and desire for the chance of rod bending action is to be found at sea. As my dad would say why fish the edges of the ocean waiting for the fish when you can hop in a boat and go find them. The no trawl zone in Hawkes Bay this

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Federation Says “Whoa” to Smith’s RMA Hurry

by James Speedy

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What an awesome spring it has

been for fly fishing the Tongariro, good rainfall, good sunshine, good hatches even cicada recently, dry and dropper been working well, at time of putting this together we have had a barometer drop and of course a run of fish.

To all the moaners (actually people who are not prepared to change or simply have no idea) who say the fishing in the Tongariro is terrible or there are no fish ?, without wanting to put

to finer point on it let the moths out of your wallet and do a raft fishing trip of the upper river.

I am surprised there are fish in the Lake still (lol), these fish did not swim over land to get there ! . If the summer is as hot and long as predicted dry fly fishing will be exceptional later on in my opinion.

The Tongariro river is a beautiful place and has always been an awesome fishery, it would have the easiest access, great pools, runs and riffles accommodating all methods of fishing.

Having said that where “the trout live is beautiful “so are the majority of our NZ rivers, just adapt your style and approach to each one.

Try our “Buddy Service” you will/ must know how to fish, have all your own gear, licence, know how to tie on your own flies unless your arms are painted on, your just short on time perhaps, or want some local knowledge or need someone to listen to your bleeding heart fishing stories call us 07 386 7929.

Very tight lines for the coming year.

A first from The Tuki Tuki drove over to meet Ken, Cameron, Chris, Chris lab looked pregnant but he informed us it had just eaten his wife’s Christmas cake she had made.

Quickly we loaded up Ken’s truck with our gear and we were on the road to the Tuki Tuki. Shortly after we stopped at Dannevirke, where I had a bacon and egg pie for breakfast next stop was the Tuki Tuki.

The weather over the range was excellent the river looked good for fishing. Quickly I jumped out of the truck to sort and assemble my gear, the plan was Chris and Cameron went down stream, Ken and I headed upstream. Around 50 metres from the truck Ken said I should try fishing here as there’s often a brown or two sitting around there close in, I approached looking eagerly for my desired prey then I saw the rings so what I thought was a rising fish.

Then it happened again and again thinking bugger I need a dry fly and I tied on a Nymph I slowly approached closer spotting a few fish between 2 to 3 lbs. Watching them for a while I could see they were feeding near the bottom.

Remembering a hard learnt lesson from fishing once with Jim Hale I was anxious about casting over the fish, after seeing and casting to a few fish which just didn’t seem at all interested in my offerings and eventually sought refuge out of sight. I walked slowly up Stream, shortly I came across a fish nearing 3 lbs only about 2.5 metres out into the river. I began self-checking my ability thinking where my shadow is. Should

The NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers has put a hand brake on Minister for the Environment Nick Smith’s wish to hurry changes to the Resource Management Act through. In a letter to the Christchurch-based “The Press” Nick Smith argued he was a not hurrying the proposed bill of changes through Parliament. But the NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers was not impressed with the minister’s denials.

Federation spokesman Ken Sims of Manawatu, said Environment Minister Nick Smith’s recent claim that proposed RMA changes were “not

pure, clean” tourism and export marketing slogan said Ken Sims. He cited the recollections of current Federation president Colin Taylor (currently overseas) who as a teenager growing up in Canterbury in the 1950’s and under the guidance of the late George Ferris and other senior anglers, learned to fly fish on the Selwyn. The Selwyn was then a pure, clear and prolific fly fishing river. Today it has been destroyed.

“Its current condition of virtually dry river bed is an example of complete environmental mismanagement,” said Ken Sims.

Tony Orman spokesman for the Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations and life member of the Federation said government plans to greatly increase dairying, particularly of a corporate nature, were “illogical and environmentally irresponsible”.

“In tackling its goal and idolizing of growth and to heck with the costs, government is pushing dairying expansion in low rainfall areas like the Canterbury Plains and MacKenzie Basin. Water has to come from somewhere to grow pasture. It won’t come from the sky so it comes from aquifers and rivers which are the one and same thing,” he said. “The result is depleted flows and dry river beds.”

Should Catfish in Lake Taupo be a concern?

By Lance Palmer

The weather forecast for the club trip to the Tuki Tuki wasn’t good at all with the heavy rain, thunder storms and gale force winds predicted. My chance to finally get away, on a club trip looked very bleak to say the least. Sure enough on the Thursday night Ken announced the trip was cancelled due to the crappy weather coming in. Even though my gut feeling was it will be cancelled to hear the words it was cancelled was disappointing for me to say the least.

Oh well chin up what will be will be I told myself. Meanwhile the rest of the evening being the mystery fly tying night was really enjoyable. I tied with Doug for the best fly tied the prize was a delicious cake enjoyed by all that evening.

Then Ken said to me “Hey if the weather looks of for Saturday, are you interested in a day trip to the Tuki Tuki?

To right I thought as I replied yes. A Plan was made if the weather looked OK. Then the text came thru to meet at 7 am at the gorge car park, Wha hoo My lovely Mrs was still OK for my fishing leave pass.

Saturday Morning was at the Gorge car park bright early, the sky was overcast and the night rain seemed to have set in. Bugger I thought being the only one there at this stage I couldn’t help but wonder if anyone else would turn up. Then Chris B turned up although I was unaware it was him then a couple of minutes later I saw Ken and Cameron indicating to pull in and join us, Yes its bloody happening I told myself. I

A dead trout in a dry Canterbury river bed stark testimony to government’s folly.

rushed’ did not inspire confidence particularly so in the light of Smith’s recent statements such as: it was “not practical” to clean up degraded rivers, that birds were to blame for water quality declines and that water quality standards should be “boatable and wadeable” rather than ”swimmable.”

“With these in mind, it makes it all the more imperative to proceed with changes to the RMA with extreme caution and full public consultation,” he said.

Ken Sims said the Selwyn River, just south of Christchurch, and the dry river bed was a grim reminder that the current government was both in denial and cavalier about the public’s rivers. A recent article in “The Press” by journalist Charlie Mitchell’s gave vivid descriptions.

“A long stretch of the Selwyn River near Christchurch is barren. Its dry river-bed is snaked by tyre tracks, faint clues of its past as a river disappearing as it becomes a vehicle track. A beloved swimming spot downstream is stagnant. Fish and eels die in their dozens, trapped in pools evaporating around them.”

The Selwyn’s demise was tragically a classic example of the deterioration of the public’s lowland rivers and the implausibility of New Zealand’s “100%

I kneel down, how much should I false cast, have I got the fly on, can I cast to it without spooking it and I must cast and mend my line in time. I stood there for a while the fish didn’t seem to be aware of my presence I began to pull out the line and allowed it to drift down stream before lifting it and begin casting to the fish I now wanted badly.

After the first cast and it drifted by the fish I tried another couple of times, my prey was still sitting there but didn’t seem interested once again in my offerings. I told myself I’d cast a couple more times then change my fly pattern, picking my line up to cast to the fish again, I watched as my line looked perfectly in position then the indicator passed it, I watched eagerly as the fish move to the right slightly opening his mouth and closed on what was on my small hare and copper fly.

Striking thinking this is too good to be true my rod bent the indicator disappeared and the line started being of the reel, shortly after the fish jumped several times showing it’s self to me. Surely but slowly I managed to retrieve the line until finally I could scoop my landing net under him, What a feeling this fish has given me, I spotted him, cast to him and caught him on a fly I had tied myself, the rest of the day was quiet for me with no more fish showing interest in taking any offers. Ken and Chris both caught a few fish during the rest of the day.

Other than having bloody sore feet from wearing unbroken in wading boots all day. It was a first for me and a great day fishing with great company.

Recently a dead catfish was found in the Tongariro River and caused concerns with local anglers.

Taupo Fishery managers have been monitoring catfish populations with regularity since 1996 with the intention of learning what impacts, if any, do catfish have on trout populations in the Taupo Fishery. DoC’s current view is that distribution has reached the extremities of their likely range.

They are also confident that the overall population has remained stable after the boom period throughout the 1990’s which then showed a steady drop. They are also certain catfish have a minor impact on trout and it is also possible that smaller catfish supplement the trout diet.

The stomach contents of catfish are analyzed annually to determine if they are affecting any food sources for trout. There has been conjecture from the angling community that catfish are impacting on smelt populations however, very few smelt are ever found in the stomachs of catfish. Catfish are opportunistic feeders rather than active predators. The diet of catfish is related to location, the time of the year and catfish size, indicating that catfish prefer to scavenge the most abundant and easily obtained prey in their habitat. Any smelt consumed are likely due to the catfish picking up the dead smelt from the bottom of the lake rather than preying on them when actively swimming.

Weed makes up the majority of the catfish diet followed by invertebrates.

Catfish will consume koura but only when catfish are at a length greater than 250mm. Koura also only form a very small part of the diet of catfish.

Distribution shows larger populations towards the southern end of Lake Taupo such as Waihi (approximately 58% of monitored catch numbers) and Motuoapa (approximately 42% of monitored catch numbers).

When Whakaipo bay was monitored during the 2000’s, the percentage of the total caught was very low, on average less than 10 percent.

Catfish growth in terms of size and condition has been increasing on average since monitoring first started, which would be consistent to a drop of population providing a larger abundance of available food. Also, any change in the abundance of macrophytes in the shallow margins of the lake is likely to be associated with a change in catfish abundance, hence the importance of continued preservation of water

quality and the prevention of further introductions of exotic species.

DoC’s role currently is to continue to monitor catfish populations and diet, then register if there has been any significant change. It should be noted that the angling community had queried the impact catfish have on trout which initiated the response of Taupo Fishery Managers undertaking this research.

There are catfish known to live in the lower or estuary reaches of the Tongariro and other rivers around Lake Taupo. They don’t breed in the river itself, as their preferred spawning habitat is in the warm shallow margins of the lake, particularly around raupo swamp. Based on our monitoring the department has no concerns for the likelihood of catfish infesting the Tongariro, as its temperature and flow rate are generally outside the preferred habitat of catfish. The preferred habitat is warm water and shallow, sandy or muddy substrate and weed beds.

We hold no concerns with respect to catfish and the Tongariro River fishery.

DoC undertake monitoring every month between November and March of each year at 2 sites which

are Waihi and Motuoapa. Stomach content analysis is completed annually with fish collected during routine sampling and occasionally from spearfishing at known sites.

DoC target fish in slightly deeper waters by spearfishing where they potentially could affect trout.

Around the mouth of the T-T for example. Even in these habitats we don’t have any evidence that catfish and trout overlap in their diet.

Catfish are caught using fyke nets and are sampled at the two key sites, 5 times a year. As above we also sample by spearfishing and on occasion we have also taken samples from the annual Motuoapa Spearfishing competition to analyze stomach content.

Estimated populations are calculated based on numbers captured per night by fyke net at Waihi and Motuoapa, then compared against records from previous years.

Over the last 10 years DoC has employed a Ranger with the sole focus of freshwater threats. This role has been supported by MPI and is an advocacy position. MPI respond to new incursions on a national scale.

Regional incursions are managed by regional council. Details of these are within their pest management plans.

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Getting back to the river after an unwanted break

By John Clarke

There are at least three ways to bore your friends: long accounts of your marvelous grandchildren; prolonged stories of your holiday; details of your medical problems. Sorry folk, I am going to bore you with number 3. I have bladder cancer and three goes at surgery ended with the medical advice that nothing can be done.

As a result of major surgery I was (or acted as) a semi invalid for nearly 3 months but the cancer has apparently not yet spread and I am feeling much better. So good in fact that I thought that I ought to get out on the river again, even though I was a bit hesitant.

Recently the weather was terrible and the rivers were often dirty so when, during an interval between rainy days, Don Scott suggested a short trip to Ashhurst Bridge I happily joined him. I hooked a very active rainbow of about 2 pounds. It took me far downstream (true right bank) before I finally got my hands on it. I had no net and there was no bank (steep sides with trees) to land it on so I lifted it in both hands and was wondering what to do when it gave a big wriggle and I dropped it.

The water was about a foot deep and the fish quickly disappeared. I had not yet decided if I would keep it, so I was spared a difficult decision.

More recently (24 Nov 2016) Mick Fowler suggested a longer trip. I enthusiastically agreed and we went through the gorge and eventually

ended on the river bank. There was a good near pool which I left to Mick while I went from pool to pool for about a couple of hours or more. I did not get a single touch and eventually rejoined Mick who, surprised and impressed me, because he had two large rainbows: one just over 4 pounds and the other about 3 pounds. Big fish for the Manawatu.

I hinted that we should go home at that point but Mick said that he had not covered all the pool and urged me to have a go. He generously offered to hang around for as long as I liked while he cleaned his fish.

I somewhat reluctantly took his advice. But since I wrongly assumed that he had covered all the pool I was not hopeful.

I was fishing with my usual hare and copper with a pheasant-tail nymph at the tail.

Mick had caught his fish on what looked like a hare and copper (at tail) but the fly had an unweighted red bead.

He gave me one and I substituted it for the pheasant-tail.

He also pointed out that he used a leader about a rod length. However I have personal ideas on this subject so I stuck to my short leader. I landed a fish of about a pound in a matter of minutes followed by two more, just a bit over a pound. Then I hooked a bigger fish and would have had trouble landing it, but Mick appeared with a net and netted it for me.

It was a good-conditioned rainbow just over 3 pounds. The biggest fish I have landed for about a year. It was time to go home. Unusually for me, I had hooked and landed 4 fish all on the same fly. I say, unusual, because I tend to lose at least 30% of the fish I hook. Mick said that he used Tiemco hooks (size 14 I think) which have a wide gape. However since he gave me a fly I was later able to compare the hook with my usual Black Magic ones. I could see little/no difference.

Sometimes trout take tentatively and sometimes vigorously or so it seems to me. These trout took vigorously so that might account for the fact that they were well hooked.

Why did I catch nothing while

fishing for 2 hours with a large weighted hare and copper nymph with a pheasant-tail nymph at the end? Don’t know. Perhaps the fish were just absent from the pools.

On the other hand when I changed pool and the tail fly I hooked fish freely. The question is: did the pool make the difference or was it the fly? I shall never know but Mick fished with the red beaded fly first with a lower tail fly.

He noticed that it was the red beadhead that got the fish so he reversed the fly order. Perhaps the fly used really is important.

Many anglers certainly think so.

I do not enjoy tying flies and am no good at it. However I can tie hare and coppers and PT nymphs. I have long been of the opinion that if trout are in a mood to be caught they will take almost any fly or at any rate will be tempted by one of my flies. However the marked success of Mick’s redheaded hare and copper has made me wonder if I should be more adventurous in my choice of flies.

So much so that I went to buy some red beads but H & F did not have any although they had ready –tied nymphs just like Mick’s. I bought some copper beads and will try them. Unfortunately I could not tie them as well as Mick’s ones. However I will try them out sometime perhaps instead of a PT nymph.

Mick says that he thinks that the redheads are particularly good in the spring. The caught fish were full of beetles. Those brown ones from grass grub I believe. Mick thinks that it is possible that the redheaded fly looks like a beetle to the trout.

Perhaps, but the similarity is not obvious. The relative merits of various flies at different times, seasons and places is something that can cause endless discussion but will never end in a final unchanging conclusion. If it did fishing shops would have to greatly cut down on the range of flies they offer.

The meaning of life, the origin of the universe, and what is the best fishing fly are topics which do not presently lend themselves to definitive answers so I will change the subject.

Taupo Trout Fisheries Redress In a deed of settlement the Ngāti Tūwharetoa will be allowed to take trout directly from the Tongariro Trout Hatchery for cultural purposes.

The term “Cultural purposes” has a standard meaning (it is defined in the detail of the agreement with DoC) and thus requires a process sanctioned, and signed, by both Kaumatua and DoC.

Breaches can be prosecuted.

This is partly in recognition of the role trout have played in changing the ecosystem of Lake Taupo (Taupomoana) and a reduction in the abundance of traditional fish such as koura.

The Deed provides for the establishment of the Tongariro Trout Hatchery and Freshwater Ecol-

ogy Centre Trust to be managed by the governance entity, the Minister of Conservation and the Tongariro National Trout Centre who will each appoint two trustees.

The full Treaty Summary can be found https://www.govt. nz/dmsdocument/6776.pdf

021 0733374

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Early Bird Bait & Tackle Report

Early Bird Bait & Tackle Report “The man with the white beard and the red suit has been and gone now, leaving you hopefully with loads of new fishing gear and if you where a really good guy over the year possibly a boat”.

So now you’re thinking where we can go to test it all out. If I told you the fishing here on the Firth of Thames was good I would be lying because it’s better than that. Obviously at this time of year we expect the fish to get smaller but there are so many that most charters are getting their limits with ease and the size of the fish being caught is nothing shorter than fantastic. You can expect Snapper over 40cm and Kingfish well over 80cm around the Mussel Farms and a lot of guys have told me stories of being busted off by very big fish. You don’t have to go very far up the coast if you want

a feed as most of the rocky outcrops beyond Waiomu are producing good sized Snapper and plenty of Kahawai.

Most of the Gurnard are just beyond casting reach along the coast but one or two are being caught, with one being measured at 42cm. Baby sharks are always a problem in December and January and avoiding them is very difficult but with patience and perseverance you should come out on top and get your limit. Further out in the Firth, plenty of good Snapper are being caught both on the drift and anchored. Bite times have been spot on recently so check them before you go out fishing. Berley is a must so get a bomb down to the bottom and wait. The fish will come to you!!!

Judging by the comments I have received from the guys returning from fishing, there doesn’t seem to be a special bait that out fishes all of the rest. Fish are fussy sometimes and what might not work on the incoming tide will be a killer on the outgoing. Always carry a mixture of bait so you can keep your options open. Put some Chum in the water to entice them to take your bait. Of course, over doing the chum may also bring in the bigger sharks so a few pieces every minute should be quite enough to get the Snapper and Kingies excited.

More and more people are launching further up the coast now from Te Kouma, this being an all tide place to get the boat in and out. However, there have been reports of theft of trailers and vehicles being broken into. Make sure your trailer is secure and wheels are locked or clamped.

‘The Mongrels’ will always be there

so don’t make their job easy. The holidays are an ideal time for these guys to make a killing on your behalf so have a good look around and maybe take a note of their vehicle registration. The MAF Guys are normally not too far away so talk with them. Please be reminded about fish limits and of course taking fish that are undersize.

Leaflets are available with all of the rules and regulations clearly printed and MAF do issue a fish measure that sticks to the side of your boat. DO NOT BE CAUGHT OUT. In my October article I mentioned the possible reasons that people find it hard to catch fish; this being the oils on your hands being transferred to the bait. A few days ago I was packing some hooks away and found that I had a slippery film on my fingers (OIL) which is put on the hooks in the manufacturing process. This has to be one of the most potent things that fish dislike. Ensure you completely wipe off this residue after buying new hooks and possibly any other gear you buy. I’m sure that your fishing results will improve if you do take this little step. I have attached another nice Snapper caught by Ritchie up at the Port Jackson area. This one was only 19.5lbs but there where bigger ones that got away including something that broke his 120lb Braid Line.

Anyway folks, enjoy your holidays, call in and spin a few yarns with me and stay safe. Keep an eye on the little ones and as I have said before, please report anyone taking undersized fish. You hold the future of fishing for your kids. If the seas are raped of fish there won’t be a future for them. Get out there, stay safe and Tight Lines.

The Surf Casting Bait Cannons down the barrel. Pump up to the desired pressure, walk down to where you want to launch the sinker and bait near the surf line, knock back the lever to It’s a fishing revolution with shoot the line out approximately the new bait cannons - the 200 to 250 metres and that’s it, then air powered surf caster. sit back while you catch a fish. It There are two types available, takes about 10 seconds to set it up. first there is the ‘Big Berther”. The unit is only 6kgs and 1750mm This is a self contained unit that you long and comes in a base unit or a full simply place on the beach, un- kit depending on what you desire. fold the legs, put your rod into the The second option is the Surf Smasher. holder supplied, drop the supplied This is a smaller hand held unit in sinker and trace with bait attached which you simply put your rod in a rod holder previously dug into the beach, load the cannon with the sinker and bait, pump up to the pressure your require, then walk down the waters edge and shoot it out 150 to 200 metres, go back flip over your bail arm and take up the slack. That’s it.

The Surf Smasher is only 1140mm long and 3 kg so fits nicely into the storage boxes on most motor homes or easily into the boot of your vehicle.

It comes in two different kits, the base kit or a full kit inc pump etc.

The device can also be made lefthanded.

The Bait Cannons are sold as an R20 device as it is not a toy.

It has been manufactured in NZ, using Marley high pressure fittings rated at 167psi, and quality PVC/Stainless and Brass fittings (no rust). It uses a brass pressure release valve for added safety.

Testimonies always help with a new invention and here is some feedback from very satuisfied customers. # Excellent trade, very helpful on pickup. Have tried the baitcaster, performs just as he said. Would not hesitate to recommend. Thanks Ken. # Awesome can’t wait to use it. Great quality. Recommend thanks Galdof # Top grade product and excellent trader. # AAA+ thanks Batabaz Fast easy Hubby very happy! Candy floss # Awesome gadget. Works well.

Cheers Stevepree # Good trade look like a lot of fun will do what it suprosed to Hitnmiss # Hi Keith, Great buy, thrilled with your service, works a treat.

Many thanks nzrover2works # great ++goatman awesome trade! absolutely stoked with bait launcher! D-maz # Very happy, it does what it says and more. # a reputable trader. paaco bait canon baitcaster Contact Keith on baitcannons@gmail.com or web site www.baitcannons.com or call 021 0733374

Fishin Great New Years Deals Okuma Nano Matrix Slow Jig Rods were $199

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Ramco Boats now available in the Waikato Extras available on request:

? Rod Holders ? Bimini ? Boarding ladder ? Road cover ? Front and rear seat squabs ? All electronics- sounders etc ? Ramco 5 year structural warranty ? Rear Seat (moveable) ? Ramco Alloy Trailers available ? Alloy Ski pole Finance available to approved ? Bait board bracket with bait board purchasers ? Engine of your choice ? supply & fitted ? Alloy folding rocket launcher

New Boat Sales and Service

NEW BOATS READY FOR INSPECTION

Ramco 5050 prelude and voyager trailer Boarding ladder & 4 Rod Holders. We can fit the engine of your choice. $22,956.68

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07 849 4936 027 473 4075 Phil Birss Marine, 26 Euclid Ave, Te Rapa, Hamilton

Open Sat 9 am- 2pm

Phil.birss@xtra.co.nz www.philbirssmarine.co.nz