Fishing and Outdoors Newspaper October 2017

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October 2017

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NZ government sucks in USA

The world’s smallest dolphin species is smart, playful, and friendly with fewer than 50 still alive. The Maui dolphin was listed as an endangered species Monday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and its cousin, the Hector’s dolphin, was listed as threatened.

It appears that the US fish importers have been sucked in by the NZ fishing industry and that while the Maui is very likely to become extinct, the NZ government have deliberately mislead the US government.

The Maui dolphin are in the position they are in because the NZ fishing industry have bought the NZ politicians, who manage the fishery.

An endangered species is close to extinction, while a threatened species is suffering from a massive population drop with no end in sight.

SEE INSIDE Page 6 -

A New Era for Transparency

Page 7 -

Negative social impacts of aquaculture

Page 8 -

NZ’s QMS: on an undeserved pedestal

Page 8 -

Secret Fishing Deals

Page 11 - Plastic Shotgun Wads - good or bad Page 12 - Dairy’s deadly addiction to Urea Page 16 - Lost Rivers – in New Zealand

While such listings can help set up designated habitats in U.S. waters, both species live in the waters of New Zealand.

The dolphins have been devastated by commercial fishing, drowning after being caught in fishing nets.

Gillnets are vertical nets usually set in a line. As fish swim into the net, they become trapped as the netting hooks itself behind the gills. Dolphins need to sur-

face to breathe air and drown when trapped in the gill net.

Trawling also has a devastating affect.

The new system of PSH net developed by commercial fishers has failed to save the dolphin mortality rate because common dolphin were caught during trials.

The United Nations passed a resolution in 1991 banning large-scale use of gillnets in international waters. Some U.S. states have banned

or heavily regulated gillnets.

A recent announcement by NOAA means the U.S. government will prohibit the importing for commercial sale, products from countries who fail to meet an acceptable standard of protection for its sea mammal bycatch.

The New Zealand government has enacted laws protecting the dolphins, but less than half their habitat is covered. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the Maui dolphin will go extinct within a few decades unless more is done to protect them.

This is something that the National government has been loath to do as it protects its mandate to double the value of export earnings by 2025.

The population of the Hector’s dolphins has dropped by 80 percent in the past 50 years, from an estimated 50,000 in 1970 to about 9,000 today.

Maui dolphins dropped from 1,500 to less than 50.

In addition to dangers from the fishing industry, Maui dolphins have a low birth rate and are unable to breed in high numbers.

In their 20-year life span, females take seven to nine years to mature and give birth to one just calf every two to four years.

Mining and oil drilling also threaten the dolphins’ habitat, as drilling disrupts the seabed where dolphins hunt for food.

In 2008, New Zealand set up a marine mammal sanctuary and restricted gill net fishing where the dolphins are known to live. Despite increasing the sanctuary’s size to about 3,800 square miles in 2013, this pathetic response is not enough to save the dolphins from extinction.

In June this year, the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission urged New Zealand to expand the area of prohibited net fishing, noting that no other actions have been taken to save

the dolphins in the past four years.

“It therefore concludes, as it has repeatedly in the past, that existing management measures in relation to bycatch mitigation fall short of what has been recommended previously and expresses continued grave concern over the status of this small, severely depleted subspecies,” the committee wrote.

The baiji dolphin, also called the

river dolphin, was declared in 2006 to be the first dolphin species to become extinct in modern times.

The US government has taken a strong stance against Mexico and banned canned fish for from the Mexican government in its refusal to take adequate protection for the nearly extinct Vaquita porpoise.

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Fishing and Outdoors PO Box 10580, Te Rapa, Hamilton 3240 Ph 07 8551833 Editor Graham Carter mail@fishingoutdoors.co.nz 021 02600437 Advertising Sales Tracy Fairey Bay of Plenty 027 884 7156

Dave Turner has finally been shown the door

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. ISSN 1179-5034 Unsolicitored editorial, letters, photographs will only be returned if you include a stamped, self addressed envelope. www.fishingoutdoors.org Visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/Fishingoutdoors Copyright © 2011 Fishing Outdoors Newspaper, All Rights Reserved.

Dave Turner – GONE

Finally the MPI has seen sense and have given Dave Turner Former Director Fisheries the boot over his continual cover-ups and lies regarding the management of the inshore fishery.

Martyn Dunne the Director General of MPI should have bought in somebody new with clean hands.

The appointment of Steve Halley to replace Turner as Director – Fisheries Management, Marine Branch, will do nothing to improve the image and reputation of MPI, or Director General Martyn Dunne.

Halley as the former inshore manager was instrumental in overseeing the camera trials in the snapper fishery and worked closely with the industry owned Camera Company.

Turner was responsible for the snapper debacle several years ago when the rec fishing limit was reduced and the commercial fishing quota increased.

It is becoming more clearer that Dunne is cleaning house as we anticipate a new government that will ensure all the rotten eggs in this MPI fisheries basket are removed.

Appointing Halley is another huge mistake by Dunne because Halley is known to only bat for industry.

Not one single person employed in any MPI fisheries management role is fit for this job, as their continual lies, deceit and corruption have degraded the MPI Fisheries to nothing but a dribbling bureaucratic mess, which has stained NZ’s reputation.

It’s not nice making fun of fat people.

They’ve got enough on their plates as it is.

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Coro Dive Report With scallop season well under way the shellfish have returned to reasonable depths this year, one diver got his limit and the limit for his safety crew in 16 minutes, using 100 bar and in only 8 metres, and they were very fat and tasty.

Fishing the Mussel Farms while they are working is again going well,

with limits easy to catch and good size fish. Remember don't hinder those working on the barge, please stay clear but close enough to get in the berley trail and you will do well.

Now on another note (not so pleasant) please check the manufacturing dates on your dive tanks, don't get caught out with dud tanks,

now all HOAL2 UK tanks will be condemned after the 31st October 2017, sorry we will not be filling them. If you are unsure bring them in or take them to your nearest dive filling station, where you can get help identifying all the numbers.

Be safe out there and have fun Team Coro Fish & Dive PS try taking cooked mussels (much easier to open than raw) as bait if you are going to the fish the Mussel Farms they do work.

Overfishing leads to adjustments to fishing limits The MPI has announced changes to catch limits and sustainability measures for 18 fish stocks.

This appears that commercial fishers will be allowed to catch about 30% more and recreational fishers will be further constrained.

This means that they haven’t done anything to the recreational fisher before the elections which means that they are likely to further penalize rec fishers afterwards.

The decision supposedly reflects feedback from fishers from all sectors throughout the consultation to exercise caution in order to maintain sustainability of these important fisheries.

Catch limits for neighbouring pāua

fisheries have also been reduced.

This takes into account the significant area of pāua habitat no longer available in the Kaikōura area. Lowering catch limits in these neighbouring fisheries will ensure they will not be put under too much pressure.

Other changes include: Decrease to catch limits for bluenose around the country to support the rebuild currently in progress and support sustainability.

Decrease to catch limits for hake on the west coast of the South Island because of uncertain scientific information.

Decrease to catch limits and non-commercial allowances set for pāua in the Chatham Islands to ensure the con-

tinued sustainability of that fishery.

Increase to catch limits for red gurnard on the West Coast of the South Island, because the abundance of gurnard in this region is high.

Increase to catch limits for red cod in the lower North Island, due to the setting of non-commercial allowances for the first time.

Increase to catch limits for southern orange roughy, as science suggests a utilisation opportunity for the Puysegur sub-stock.

Deemed value rates were also amended for 6 fish stocks to encourage balancing of catch with ACE throughout the year.

Global impacts of trawling quantified Trawling accounts for 20 percent of global fish landings, and provides food for millions of people.

Trawling is by far the most criticized fishing methods.

A new study that puts numbers to the impact of trawling, also finds that some types of trawls cause significantly more damage to the seabed than others.

Fishermen use bottom trawls to catch fish, crustaceans and bivalves that live near sea beds. Trawls kick up sediment, flatten the seafloor

and, in places that have them, damage coral and other structures.

The study finds a close relationship between the depth of trawl penetration and the depletion of marine life. Hydraulic dredges cause the most damage, removing 41 percent of the biomass and penetrating the seabed 16.1 centimeters.

It takes the seabed 1.9 to 6.4 years to recover from a trawl, depending on the type of seabed and the trawl gear used.

But the study’s depletion and re-

covery figures measure only total biomass – not the diversity or type of organisms. Different organisms are impacted differently, and organisms with shorter life cycles recover quicker.

Of the most concern to many are corals and sponges, which are both more vulnerable to trawl gear – a higher proportion killed per pass – and have much slower recovery times.

It is doubted that sea beds with 100-year-old corals can recover from trawling quickly, if at all, especially in ar-

Visit us on www.facebook/Fishingandoutdoorsnewspaper eas with repeated heavy fishing. Structure-forming marine organisms and animals that live above the sea floor can be impacted by trawling no mat-

ter how shallow the trawl penetration.

The cumulative effects of intensive fishing by multiple boats in the same area will likely magnify the ef-

MPI surveying fishers The MPI wants to survey recreational fishers across the country to help build a picture of recreational catch.

The whole exercise is pointless because the MPI are still trying every trick in their powerful book to allow the exporting of more of the better tasting high value inshore fish species from the inshore fishery where the fishing industry shouldn’t be fishing in.

With pressure placed on the Seafood Industry for Recreational fishers to be monitored we think this is an absolute insult, when we believe that this is another ploy for the MPI to ascertain

what rec fishers catch so they can give more to the commercial industry.

These bureaucrats will do and say anything to prop up the failing commercial industry.

Participating in the survey is easy, fishers will be asked by text if they went fishing. If they have they will get a quick phone call asking for more detail.

The MPI say all information collected will be anonymous and only used for fisheries management.

Then they insult the intelligence of participants by sending them a guide on fish species so they can keep track

fect and prolong the recovery time.

There are undoubtedly places where trawls and dredges aren’t appropriate, such as coral and sponge habitats. of the kinds of fish they are catching.

At the same time NIWA will be conducting aerial surveys to count the number of boats in the water and conducting interviews at boat ramps asking fishers what they caught that day to estimate the total day’s catch in that area.

With the latest report from Randall Bess it appears that the MPI is colluding with a fisheries advocacy group and agreeing to have rec fishing licenced by way of requiring boaties to pay a fuel tax or tax on registration of your boat trailer which will go to the group.

This means that pleasure boaties and freshwater anglers will be subsidizing saltwater fishers even if they don’t go anywhere near the sea.

Quite a ridiculous idea.

Chinese fined $5.9 Million for carrying illegal sharks The Ecuadoran government demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting its waters from illegal activity when it handed down a $5.9 million fine to a Chinese refrigerated cargo vessel owner and a four year prison sentence to its captain for the illegal transport of sharks and shark fins in the protected waters of the Galapagos.

The vessel, Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999 was caught crossing the protected waters of the Galapagos Islands with its illicit cargo of sharks on August 13.

The possession of sharks and shark parts is prohibited in the Galapagos Marine Reserve, so the Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999 was in violation of the law by just being there with sharks in her hold.

Although shark fishing is still legal in many places, and unregulated on much of the high seas, AIS data suggests the Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999 collected them from other vessels on

the high seas without authorization.

Refrigerated cargo ships (known as “reefers”), like the Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999, collect catch from multiple fishing vessels and transfer it to port. It’s called transshipment, and it allows fishing fleets to remain at sea, but it also obscures the source of catch and facilitates the mixing of legal and illegal fish.

Analysis of the AIS data shows that between August 5 and 7, just 6 days before crossing into the Galapagos EEZ the Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999 rendezvoused with four Chinese flagged tuna longliners in the equatorial eastern Pacific, 1700 miles from the Galapagos. Each longliner spent about 12 hours moving along with the reefer at a distance of about 30 meters, which indicates the boats were likely tied up. These lengthy rendezvous at sea suggest a substantial transfer of cargo was possible. Prior

to arriving in the eastern Pacific, the Fu Yuan Yu 999 was in port in Fuzhou, China, and the AIS data shows no other potential or likely rendezvous or fishing activity during her voyage.

The Inter-American-Tropical-TunaCommission regulates the area where the rendezvous occurred, and although shark fishing is legal there, transshipment is only legal under limited circumstances. The Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999 is not on the IATTC’s list of registered carrier vessels, which means any transshipments it would have engaged in were illegal.

The Chinese have thousands of these vessels scattered around the oceans and highlights that illegal fishing carries on unabated and that nothing is likely to happen to the ship.

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Book reviews

A Lighthouse Keeper’s Cookbook

By Paul Trevethick Lighthouses have always created a fascination with many people around the world. They have a hidden mystery about them and are one of the most photographed and painted objects that people enjoy, with jokes written about them, pictures made into jigsaws, songs and even featured in many movies.

Now we have a book with some incredible recipes and a well-documented history of the good old lighthouses around our coastline.

Paul Trevethick takes us on a journey sharing his many recipes from days as a lighthouse keeper and gives a rare insight into the life and escapades, the friends and people that

“In the Jaws of the Dragon” subtitled “How China is taking over New Zealand and Australia”

by Ron Asher published by Tross Publishing, Wellington.

Reviewed by Tony Orman What’s this got to do with fishing and Hunting? Bear with me and read on. This is a startling book dealing with China’s free trade agreement with New Zealand the first Western country China chose - and allegedly about China colonising and dominating New Zealand’s economy rather than entering into about free trade.

China’s acquisition of farm land in both Australia and New Zea-

“Once We Were One -The Fraud of Modern Separatism”

by Andy Oakley published by Tross Publishing, Wellington.

Price $35. Reviewed by Tony Orman This is a pretty gutsy book because it dares to step into the subject of

they share this adventurous lifestyle with, to love. For some it is hard life and for others like Paul an adventure.

‘Thoughts arranged themselves into some kind of order, plans were made, fantasies played out, stories hatched, menus sorted, poems written, unrequited love letters sent.

Sitting at the table and watching the huge seas, listening to the wind howl and to Jethro Tull, the house trembling, I would go into a semi-trance while I pondered life. I enjoyed it. To snap out of it I would stoke the fire, and have a coffee and a smoke, or put on the wet weather gear and head out to do a weather report.’

His many work skills from previous employment came in handy in this occupation that often required a hardened commitment to get a job completed in weather conditions that were atrocious.

A keeper’s peace of mind, safety, food resource and jurisdiction were not to be compromised. From scaring off poachers to supporting Paul describes the day to day chores and activities that many mariners and those reliant on the valuable information the lighthouse keepers gather to keep seafarers informed and safe, to the stupidity, lack of empathy and idiotic bureaucracy in our government departments which prevails today as strong as ever.

Available at lh.keeper@hotmail.co.nz or 021 02810045 $39.99 plus p+p. land is going well. The Crafar Farms issue springs to mind.

Get the picture? Usually foreign bought land ends up with locked gates and no access to Kiwis who like to fish, hunt or tramp.

On Chinese buying land in Australia and New Zealand Ron Asher says it is one way traffic since New Zealanders or Australians and New Zealand or Australian companies are not allowed to buy any land in China and defines it as the “usual hypocrisy and bullying tactics of China’s government in exerting it’s control over the hated West.”

Get the book and have a read. It’s not only lost access. If you’re a patriotic Kiwi, you will find the book in total and in all probability, of riveting interest. The author hits out at vested interests and corruption Australian former prime minister Bob Hawke who took up the role as “lobbyist” for Shanghai Zongfu, gets a roasting and the author says, “Hawke is estimated to have made tens of millions of dollars by effectively putting himself on sale to the highest Chinese bidders in the manner of a harlot .”

Corrupt political parties are exposed and NZ politicians don’t escape unscathed.

Some may say claims by the author are extravagant, but the book documents all sources of information.

It’s a real eye-opener.

Treaty of Waitangi issue, a subject that is filled with prejudice, greed, hatred and a whole host of negative emotions that brewed up amount to a boiling hot, controversial subject. He says New Zealand is in danger of tearing itself apart over the Treaty of Waitangi and its interpretation that is now dividing our nation.

I would wager the majority of New Zealanders including most of those with Maori descent would agree but it’s a fiery subject that few dare to debate publicly, preferring to speak in hushed tones privately.

I remember playing senior rugby in Hawkes Bay against All Blacks where my team mates were clearly of strong Maori descent. We all got on fine. We were a team. That’s the way NZ should be. I’ve welcomed a visibly blooded Maori into our family and I’m delighted. He’s a really good principled chap. A number of my friends have Maori ancestry.

All good people but they are saddened by the ethnic division in NZ. Andy Oakley rues that “sepa-

ratism is not just the accepted norm; it is non-negotiable” and adds “Once We Were One” is an attempt to stamp out the fuse.”

Growing up in Cannon’s Creek, Porirua near Wellington, the author has first-hand knowledge of when New Zealand was one society and he writes of the “cultural warmth and togetherness” of his up-bringing. He openly criticises some who have hopped on the “money go round” of being a Maori claimant although they are 15/16ths European by claiming the 1/16th Maori ancestry as paramount.

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The author writes in a sincere, clear style and documents the large number of quotes.

The book on its back cover refers to the “massive fraud” and puts a challenge out to all New Zealanders regardless of ethnic background.

“If New Zealanders ignore the principled, honest and wellmeaning message of this book, they do so fast their peril.”

Get a copy, read it - it’s that important to the future of New Zealand.

Obtainable in Paper Plus and other bookshops or direct from publisher.

Microbeads to be banned in New Zealand It’s become pretty obvious it’s an election year as National pull out all the stops to con voters that they are the party to vote for. After months and months of lobbying they have finally agreed to ban microbeads.

The sale and manufacture of washoff products containing plastic microbeads will be banned in New Zealand earlier than previously expected, Associate Environment Minister Scott Simpson announced today.

“Microbeads pose a high risk to our aquatic and marine environments.

They are too small to retrieve or recycle, do not biodegrade, and are mistaken by marine life for food, causing long-term damage to ma-

rine animals,” Mr Simpson says.

The ban will take effect six months after World Trade Organisation notification, which will take place when the regulations are gazetted in November. Microbeads will be fully banned in New Zealand by May 2018.

“This ban is part of a global initiative to reduce the amount of plastic ending up in oceans.

We have responsibility for one of the largest areas of ocean, we have one of the best fishery management systems, we are leading with conservation measures like the Ross Sea Marine Protected Area and this initiative on microbeads will enhance our clean, green reputation.”

Mangrove Management Bill passes first reading After decades of ignoring the fast spreading of mangroves which are blocking estuaries and waterways legislation to facilitate the management of mangroves in the coastal areas has passed its first reading in Parliament.

While this legislation is the initiative of Thames Coromandel and Hauraki District Councils is has taken far too long to get to this stage.

It will allow both councils to establish mangrove management plans. Mangrove management is currently the responsibility of the Waikato Regional Council and they have failed dismally in controlling and eradicating what should be classified as a noxious weed.

“The rapid proliferation of mangrove growth has been a challenging issue for residents, visitors wanting to access waterways, and recreational amenities,” says Scott Simpson MP. “In Whangamata, residents have

wild versus farmed as their fourthmost important factor when choosing seafood. Whether or not the fish is local was the fifth most important factor, and whether or not it is sustainable was ranked sixth.

Seventy-five percent of those surveyed said they purchase wild seafood, compared to about 20 percent who purchase farmed seafood.

The bottom line: buying sustainable seafood is important to many shoppers, but is not the most important factor to most shoppers.

Relying on consumers to prioritize sustainability in supermarkets should be tempered with knowing that they are weighing a lot of other factors that are important to them.

There is a lot out there. If we just educate consumers about sustainable seafood, that’s not enough.

We need to factor in the other reasons that consumers are making choices like is the labelling of seafood accurate, and the methods used to catch it.

been paying a special regional council rate for several years supposedly to assist with mangrove removal and management. It has raised $1.5 million. But only 10 per cent of that has been spent on mangrove management, the rest has been spent on lawyers, consultants, appeals, reports. This is hugely frustrating for locals.

All too often Councils squander tax payers money on ridiculous expenditure that is completely unnecessary when a shovel and spade is all that is required.

“I am disappointed that the Greens voted against the bill.

That tells me all I need to know about how the Greens value mangroves over people.

“This bill is about improving the amenity and easy access to residents and visitors wanting to enjoy the coastal beauty and waterways of the Coromandel.”

Milford Cruising Club Annual Fishing Competition

What really spurs shoppers’ seafood purchases?

Shoppers are most concerned that the appearance, smell, taste and sustainability are the most important factors when shoppers they are deciding which fish to purchase.

A recent survey found that 72 percent of American consumers believe seafood is important to their health and nutrition.

A full 88 percent of those shoppers say they are willing to pay more for seafood that is certified as sustainably and responsibly sourced.

The majority of American consumers believe seafood is important to their health and nutrition, but they also want to have peace of mind as to where it came from and how it was caught.

Eighty percent of survey respondents “strongly agreed” that sensory qualities were the most important factor, while 67 percent includes the appearance of seafood among their three most important factors as to whether to buy it or not.

After the sensory qualities, health benefits, and price, shoppers ranked

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The Milford Cruising Club Annual Fishing Competition 2017 was held on Saturday 19th August in atrocious conditions with 80 or so competing. Fisher people be-

ing what they are braved the thunder and lightning to ensure the competition went ahead. The storm abated while they were on the water, and the fishing went ahead.

Congratulations to Nick (the youngest) and Dean Poole (his Dad) who were the winners of the competition with the largest snappers.

Thanks go to all our sponsors for making this a great competition. Next year we are looking to hold the competition in April.

More details to follow in 2018.

IRISH SAUSAGES

Seamus and Murphy fancied a pint or two but didn’t have a lot of money between them; they could only raise the staggering sum of one Euro.

Murphy said “Hang on, I have an idea.”

He went next door to the butcher’s shop and came out with one large sausage.

Seamus said “Are you crazy? Now we don’t have any money at all!”

Murphy replied, “Don’t worry - just follow me.”

He went into the pub where he immediately ordered two pints of Guinness and two glasses of Jameson’s Whiskey.

Seamus said “Now you’ve done it. Do you know how much trouble we will be in?

We haven’t got any money!!”

Murphy replied, with a smile. “Don’t worry; I have a plan, Cheers!”

They downed their drinks. Murphy said, “OK, I’ll stick the sausage through my zipper and you go on your knees and put it in your mouth.”

The barmaid noticed them, went berserk, and threw them out.

They continued this, pub after pub, getting more and more drunk, all for free.

At the tenth pub Seamus said “Murphy - I don’t think I can do any more of this.

I’m drunk and me knees are killing me!”

Murphy said, “How do you think I feel? I can’t even remember which pub I lost the sausage in.”

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A New Era for Transparency

The sample AIS track on the left reveals gaps in satellite reception.

The VMS-derived track on the right shows no such gap. In short, the addition of VMS data takes us one step closer to full transparency among commercial fishing vessels.

The first-ever public release of vessel monitoring system data.

No nation has ever shared its Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) data publicly before, but under the bold leadership of the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Affairs, Susi Pudjiastuti, the Republic of Indonesia is doing exactly that.

Her government is providing detailed, proprietary information on their fishing vessels for display on the Global Fishing Watch data mapping platform.

Minister Susi has called on all other nations to follow her lead.

Working in collaboration with Oceana to increase transparency in the global fishing fleet, Peru became the first nation to take up the

call by pledging to share their VMS data with Global Fishing Watch.

Until now, Global Fishing Watch have relied exclusively on publicly broadcast on the Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals from ships at sea to identify and map the fishing activity of the majority of all industrial-sized commercial fishing vessels–those with a capacity exceeding 100 gross tons, averaging around 24 metres.

As a large portion of the world’s fishing is conducted by vessels smaller than 24 metres, and many of these are not required to carry AIS, and therefore are not publicly trackable.

Many nations require smaller vessels that fly their flag or fish in their waters to install

their proprietary VMS systems.

Indonesian regulations now require VMS on fishing vessels exceeding 30 Gross Tons (averaging about 16 metres or more) that are licensed to fish in their waters. The addition of their VMS data adds an important new layer to Global Fishing Watch’s monitoring capacity, and makes nearly 5,000 previously invisible fishing vessels viewable on the Global Fishing Watch heat map.

The activity of those vessels has never before been visible to the public or to other governments.

Ocean fishing occurs mostly over the horizon and out of sight where monitoring and enforcement efforts face a blind spot nearly as large as the ocean itself. The lack of transparency has led to unchecked illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing that is threatening vulnerable ecosystems and directly affecting the global economy.

Global Fishing Watch is establishing a new standard for transparency in the fishing industry.

We all look forward to the day when all nations including New Zealand share their VMS data publicly with the world.

When everyone can see where fishing occurs, international pressure from the public and other nations will drive better policy, inform sustainable management and create incentives to more strongly enforce the rules and management regimes that are already in place.

Designed as a collision avoidance system, AIS was intended primarily for ships to communicate with other ships and landbased stations within their vicinity.

It is only recently, with the proliferation of satellite receivers and cloudprocessing capabilities that Global Fishing Watch has been able use AIS signals for continuous monitoring.

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Unfortunately, there are gaps in coverage when satellites are not overhead, or when a vessel is in a crowded area and AIS signals interfere with one another to the point where they are indistinguishable. Global Fishing Watch’s algorithm is able to account for

these problems to some degree, but they pose a challenge.

VMS, on the other hand was designed as a vessel monitoring and tracking system right from the start.

The data received is much more consistent than AIS data. Reception is guaranteed, so long as the system

is on, a signal will be received. As the image below illustrates, the addition of Indonesia’s VMS data enables Global Fishing Watch to monitor more fully the movements of vessels that appear in both data sets.

Greenwashing of bluefin sales in China The recent uproar over the marketing of bluefin tuna as sustainable has exposed how commonplace – and damaging – greenwashing has become in China’s massive seafood marketplace.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) found itself the target of criticism from Chinese environmental NGOs over sales of endangered bluefin tuna.

The WWF, which does much valuable work in tracking the impact of Chinese consumption on our oceans, appears to have overestimated its partner JD.com’s grasp or interpretation of what sustainability actually means.

JD.com ultimately issued a press release saying that it would stop sales of bluefin tuna in its self-operated online store. It stated that its stock was imported from fish farms in Australia, yet third-party vendors on JD.com continue to sell the product.

Behind the furor is a deeper problem over the use of eco-buzzwords in China. There’s now a cottage industry of seafood consultants in China who work for both online and conventional seafood retailers and conservation bodies getting rewarded handsomely for abusing terms like “wild,” “green,” and “sustainable” seafood for marketing purposes.

In China, such sustainability catchphrases have little significance to consumers other than to signal to them that a product is “safe to eat” – a quality many shoppers seek out in a grocery market still

troubled by food safety scandals.

The Mandarin-language equivalent to terms like “pure,” “deepocean,” and “wild” give firms license to charge consumers more by playing on food safety worries and the Chinese predilection for consuming exotic and rare species to demonstrate social status.

Chinese seafood and retail companies, the Chinese government, and the Chinese populace all seem to be willing participants in this charade.

There’s a clutch of major fishing companies in China marketing highpriced imported seafood as “clean” and “green,” while at the same time operating giant fleets in distant waters that are increasingly overfished. These companies offer little or no information about the impact of their activities in those waters.

Censorship is also a major problem. Chinese newspaper reports on overfishing make passing – if any – reference to the Chinese role in this phenomenon. And the sparse reporting on the role of state-owned fishing companies in overfishing of local waters (due to the subsidized, massive expansion of local fleets) has sparked little debate in the media of populous provinces like Fujian, Shandong, and Zhejiang, the home bases for most of these operators. Nor does the Chinese populace seem very interested in learning more about the issue of sustainability.

While lashing out at criticism (the minister in charge of fisheries

earlier this year blamed foreign countries for unfair criticism of Chinese long-distance fisheries), China has also promised to increase international governance of its trawlers. But the opaque nature of Beijing’s policy-making and enforcement, as well as a complete lack of trust in Chinese data, have cast much doubt on the Chinese government’s future cooperation in efforts to combat overfishing.

To fix its international reputation, China could start with a swift cut to generous fuel subsidies, and by sharing more reliable data.

The NGO community isn’t off the hook, either. Before linking up with Chinese “strategic partners,” they need to ensure those partners share the same understanding of what sustainability means and how such concepts are protected and enforced.

Nor are international seafood companies and retailers free from culpability. Long-distance fishing companies in China claim that a large portion of their products are shipped to Western buyers. Are these customers questioning or tracking where their products are coming from?

It would be nice to think that traceability would become a lodestone or a guiding principle of the seafood marketing industry in China. But much has to change in order for that to happen.

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7

Negative social impacts of aquaculture Bess attacks the rights of rec fishers

Marine farms may exclude some human uses of the coastal marine area, including water sports, recreational boating and commercial fishing although legally vessels are permitted to transit through marine farms and small powered vessels often do for recreational fishing purposes.

The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park is the most highly utilised area for commercial and recreational boating in the country, with the number of yachts and launches predicted to increase significantly over the next 20-30 years.

Marine farms can be a navigational issue for vessels if located in popular cruising routes. They have the potential to be a navigational hazard during the day and night time if not well marked.

Marine farms should not be located in areas suitable as safe anchorages for vessels as these are essential for safe boating and are becoming increasingly over-crowded with the growing number of vessels.

There can be noise and disruption impacts on adjacent landowners, and the opportunity cost from using public space for aquaculture instead of for other purposes.

Accumulation of organic matter on the seafloor can provide hard substrate for other organisms to grow on, potentially increasing species abundance and diversity, including more predators (e.g., starfish), scavengers (e.g., sea cucumbers) and decomposing organisms (e.g., worms and bacteria).

As marine farms require very high

water quality they act as a sentinel in the environment.

For example, seawater at shellfish farms is intensively monitored for bacterial contamination and harvesting is sometimes halted following any rainfall event due to the presence of E. coli in runoff from land.

Monitoring of the environment surrounding aquaculture farms, when targeted towards strategic issues, could assist in developing a better overall picture of the health of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, the impacts of aquaculture, including both positive and negative impacts as well as cumulative effects, and the influence of water quality (in particular sediments and nutrients).

There are potential adverse ecological effects associated with aquaculture that need to be well managed.

In general, fed aquaculture is intensive, has external inputs into the water column and has the potential for greater adverse effects than non-fed aquaculture, but it typically has a smaller physical footprint.

Non-fed aquaculture is more extensive (requiring a larger area to be economically viable) and so typically affects a greater area, but the ecological effects are less intense. Biosecurity Aquaculture is unlikely to be the cause of a new pest incursion into New Zealand, but marine farm structures provide potential habitat for pest organisms to colonise, which become a reservoir for further spread.

Movement of equipment, vessels and stock is a potential mechanism for the movement of pests (as are recreational and commercial vessels). Biosecurity risks are not just non-native species arriving but include diseases, pathogens, parasites and other biological threats.

The effect of diseases on farmed populations has raised concerns in New Zealand. For example, the effect of a herpes virus, especially between 2009 and 2011, on the introduced Pacific oysters.

Water-column effects – shellfish farming The main effect on the wa-

ter column from farming shellfish is the extraction of phytoplankton, zooplankton and organic particulates by the farmed shellfish.

Phytoplankton forms the base of the marine food web; depletion therefore has the potential to impact on other species. Zooplankton includes fish eggs and larvae and its depletion therefore could potentially affect localised fish stock recruitment.

The short-term composition of plankton communities can also be altered. The depletion zone usually only extends a short distance from the farm and is influenced by flushing rates, currents, depth, wind, etc. Depletion can be minimised by locating farms in areas with good flushing and/or high natural levels of phytoplankton.

On the other hand, shellfish farms benefit from some land-sourced nutrients and can assist in mitigating negative effects of land sourced nutrients through extracting nitrogen. Water-column effects – fin fish farming Decomposition of fish faeces and uneaten food releases dissolved nutrients into the water column and can result in nutrient enrichment, impacting water quality. It may also change the species composition of phytoplankton with flow on effects in the food web.

Potential problems can be minimised by good management, locating farms in areas that are deep and well-flushed, not overstocking them and avoiding areas which are nitrogen enriched. Seabed effects Both shellfish and finfish farming result in deposition of organic matter on the seabed. Negative impacts of accumulated organic matter include organic enrichment, reduced diversity and elevated levels of organic carbon. These impacts are much greater with fed-aquaculture, due to the deposition of high-nutrient faeces and uneaten feed on the seabed, which can transform well-aerated sediments into low-oxygen zones.

In extreme cases the seafloor can become anoxic (lacking oxygen) as all the available oxygen is consumed in the decomposition of the organic matter. This eliminates all life except mats of bacteria. These conditions have been seen under salmon farms in New Zealand, but never under shellfish farms. Such effects can be reduced through good management, avoidance of overstocking and locating farms in deep, wellflushed areas and away from ecologically significant seabed areas.

The penguin that never was A Tasmanian penguin long thought extinct never even existed, University of Otago-led research has discovered.

New science has debunked old science by showing the bones from the so-called Hunter Island penguin were actually from three different living penguin species, including two from New Zealand.

Otago Department of Zoology PhD candidate Ms Tess Cole says the findings, using ancient DNA methods, were unexpected and brings into question earlier claims of a penguin extinction in Southern Australia during the Holocene epoch, which began about 11,700 years ago.

Their results have just been

published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.

The Hunter Island penguin (Tasidyptes hunteri) was described as an entirely new penguin genus in 1983, based on four bones that had been excavated from an archaeological midden site on Tasmania’s Hunter Island.

Ms Cole says the bones were identified as belonging to the Fiordland crested penguin or Tawaki (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus) and the Snares crested penguin (Eudyptes robustus), both New Zealand endemics known to occasionally turn up in Tasmania, and the Australian little penguin or fairy penguin (Eudyptula novaehollandiae), a species that breeds in Tasmania.

“The presence of three species of penguins in Tasmania’s archaeological record can be explained in light of what is now known about the distributions and movement patterns of these species within the Australasian region.

“This study shows how useful ancient DNA testing can be. Not only does it help us identify new but extinct species, but it can help us rule out previously postulated species which did not exist, as in this case.”

Eudyptula novaehollandiae remains the only penguin species known to have bred around mainland Australia during the Holocene.

Randell Bess has been touring the country in an attempt to convert rec fishers into believing he has the answers saving the desecrated inshore fishery when in fact he appears to have deliberately side-stepped the facts and reasons behind why the fishery is in the state it’s in.

Not only have commercial fishers almost destroyed many once pristine fishing areas, their methods damage the sea floor and kill hundreds of unwanted fish species and other creatures.

Proof that they have damaged these areas is blamed on rec fishers but in fact many areas that are destroyed rec fishers have limited access to.

It seems extremely odd that Bess paid by the Business Roundtable (the NZ initiative) which is made up of Industry leaders, should come out of the woodwork at this

time when the failed MPI and Seafood Industry is in full damage control trying to save their industry with TV and Radio campaigns.

We think he is so biased and supportive of major industry motives we question his true motive?

While this attack on the rights of Recreational fishers by the NZ Initiative and Dr Randall Bess is occurring, we must ensure that the rights to our fisheries is maintained under the promised “Moyle’s Promise”.

Colin Moyle, Minister of Fisheries, June 1989 proposed Moyle’s Promise to ensure recreational users have access to a reasonable share of fishery resources. The government’s position is clear, where a species of fish is not sufficiently abundant to support both commercial and non-commercial fishing, preference will be given to non-

commercial fishing. This position reflected Government’s resolve to ensure all New Zealanders can enjoy and benefit from our fisheries While this policy proposed by Colin Moyle and would have been great for recreational fishers it never made it into legislation as part of the Fisheries Act due in part to industry pressure on government.

We must keep the pressure on the leaders of that Industry, the MPI and whoever will become the new Minister.

Some Commercial operators have had a gutsful of industry greed and corruption and must be commended as they attempt to put pressure on industry.

The fishery belongs to the people first and foremost, not commercial industry corporates and politicians.

Why investors aren’t investing in seafood The latest international report out tell that there lots of money seeking opportunities in China’s food sector: where a plethora of cashed-up Chinese (and some international) venture capital companies size up potential agriculture or food distribution opportunities.

Food is a conundrum for venture capitalists that see the rise in consumption of every protein and high value foodstuff in China, but struggle to find easily actionable opportunities to get exposure to this trend.

Some have invested in dairy companies at home and in Australasia, while others have invested in cold chain and other food distribution firms in China. Among the deals which have happened include U.S. venture capital firm Blackstone taking a 30 percent (for USD 600 million, EUR 513 million) stake in China Shouguang Agricultural Product Logistic Park, one of China’s largest operators of agricultural and seafood refrigerated markets, headquartered in Qingdao.

All too often, however, Chinese interest rates are prohibitively high and access to credit is too difficult for smaller private borrowers, hence the opportunity for funds willing to invest.

Here are some key reasons why do so few of these venture capitalists want to invest in seafood?

Fragmentation. Most seafood packagers and processors rely on a complex network of individual suppliers. Quality is variable, transparency is minimal. Many of them exit production in adverse market conditions. All of this is a turn off to investors seeking to do due diligence on a potential investment target.

There is a poor understanding of new trends in aquaculture, such as mariculture. While government has targeted mariculture as a major outlet of growth in seafood production, there hasn’t been a great deal of enthusiasm in the Chinese investment community, which remains wary after an October 2014 wipe-out of scallops The lack of insurance coverage of aquaculture Despite efforts by government to marshal insurance cover for seafood producers, there hasn’t been much bite from insurance companies who are worried over the fragmentation of the sector.

With limited understanding of seafood production. Some past cases of fraud also made insurers wary.

There are no nationally recognised brands available for purchase. It’s going to take at least a decade for some of the brands to mature and get real market share. Name recognition isn’t a strong point in international seafood sectors, and most consumers identify with species

which are purchased in restaurants, wet markets and supermarkets.

Likewise, there is very little price transparency in the value chain, which worries investors as well as insurers. It’s not clear for would-be investors what piece of the price for seafood products is being captured by farmers versus a processors.

It’s easier to buy proxy assets. Some big Chinese and global venture capital firms are investing in dairy companies, vineyards and other assets in developed states like Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the United States, with a view to supplying rising Chinese demand without all the risks of valuing and controlling assets in China. Foreign brands have so much more cache and command price premiums, which means investors prefer to buy a food brand with a proven track record in a developed economy that they can introduce to the Chinese market.

Seafood isn’t organic. An organic pork farm is a better bet. Chinese food marketing has become obsessed in recent years with

ecology, which is equated with food safety more than sustainability.

There are few, if any, certified organic seafood products on sale in China, but there are lots of startup pork companies breeding local pigs in certified organic conditions demanding a price premium.

$10k dangled in front of anglers

Somewhere…in one of the Rotorua lakes, there’s a ‘golden trout’ worth $10,000 to a lucky angler.

Fish & Game staff have completed the operation to release 30 rainbow trout

with specially numbered pink tags that can all win a prize in the Fish for Gold promotion – that gets underway on Opening Day October 1, 2017.

There are two big prizes to be won – one is $10,000 cash, the other an outboard motor valued at nearly $1000.

Fish & Game staff released ten of the pink tagged fish this week into each of three lakes – Tarawera, Rotoiti and Okataina.

Eastern Fish & Game Manager Andy Garrick says weather conditions were perfect, and the fish were randomly released at different spots on the three lakes.

“The operation was carried out

by Fish & Game officers amid a certain amount of secrecy as we don’t want hundreds of boats converging on a few localised areas.

“We think it adds a bit more to the excitement and anticipa-

tion of the day if no one knows where exactly they were released.

“Though we doubt it would make any difference to the likelihood of catching one as the fish are likely to spread far and wide.”

Mr Garrick says that no one, including himself, knows which lake the $10,000 fish went into.

The numbers on the pink tags have been matched to prizes that have been placed into envelopes and sealed by a Justice of the Peace, before being randomly numbered and locked away securely until the supervised draw.

One envelope contains the grand prize and another a Yamaha 2HP outboard motor valued at $949.

The other envelopes each contain a $200 tackle or voucher prize, “so every registered angler who returns with a pink tag fish will be a winner.”

“Hundreds of people have already registered to take part and the event is limited to the first 1200 entries,” Mr Garrick says.

Fish for Gold is free to enter. All you must have is a 2017-18 Fish & Game sports fishing licence. Children under 12 are not eligible to enter on a free child’s licence, but can if they are included as part of a family fishing licence.

The event runs from Opening Day to Sunday October 8 inclusive and you need to register 2156 – Fish for Gold tags are pink while the normal monitoring tags are yellow.

2160 – ‘Gold’ trout are impossible to miss with the pink tag sticking up from their backs by the dorsal fin.

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New Zealand’s fisheries QMS: on an undeserved pedestal

In popular imagination, New Zealand’s fisheries management system is a globally recognised story of sustainability, reflecting a “clean and green” environmental ethos.

Indeed, New Zealand’s fisheries have been ranked among the best managed in the world - an accolade based on the early and wholehearted adoption of a Quota Management System (QMS).

This perception is echoed in a recently published article, but we take issue with the methodology and its conclusions.

Claims that New Zealand’s QMS is an unmitigated success simply do not match the facts.

How New Zealand’s QMS works The fundamental idea behind the QMS is that fishers own (or lease) the right to catch a certain proportion (quota) of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of a certain species of fish. These quotas can be freely traded. Market forces are assumed to achieve economically optimal outcomes.

The TAC is set via an assessment process incorporating biologi-

cal data and fisheries information, where available. The TAC is supposed to ensure sustainability.

New Zealand is committed to the most comprehensive QMS, more so than any other fishing nation. The system is a seductively straightforward solution to control commercial fishing effort.

Currently, TACs are set for more than 640 fish stocks, and represent around 620,000 tonnes of fish. But not all stocks undergo an empirical stock assessment.

Because proposals for downward change usually meet resistance from the fishing industry, changing a TAC requires a persuasive case.

Most have not changed in response to either over catching or under catching (a consequence of budgetary constraints and political lobbying by powerful quota owners).

From a TAC, allowances are made for customary catch by Māori, recreational fishing and other mortality caused by fishing, for example through poaching. The remainder is the total allowable commercial catch (TACC), which is divided among the quota owners in the form of Annual Catch Entitlements (ACE).

Trading quota vs catching fish When fishers do not have enough ACE to cover their catch, they must either buy more or pay a penalty to the government. Both quota and ACE can be bought, sold and leased. One of the unfortunate consequences of the QMS is that more money is made through trading ACE than actually catching the fish.

Unsurprisingly, this empowers quota owners at the expense of fishers.

In our rebuttal to the original article, we point out that fish stocks are nowhere near as healthy as suggested. There is a lack of scientific data to correctly run the QMS. Three quarters of fish stocks have no formal or detailed assessment, and very few have independent research surveys.

Most assessments rely on industry self-reported catch and effort data, rather than independent surveys.

This is a dangerous strategy, as shown by the collapse of the Canadian Newfoundland Cod stocks in 1992. At that time, fisheries managers chose to believe industry data showing increasing catch per unit effort, rather than scientific surveys suggesting precipitous decline.

Wider ecosystems effects ignored Funding for stock assessments has significantly decreased; it is about 45% of the levels in the early 1990s while the number of fish stocks in the QMS has increased 3.5-fold.

The broader environmental effects of commercial fishing on biodiversity, endangered species, seafloor habitats and the very ecosystem that supports the fish on which fisheries depend, are becoming increasingly obvious. Even so, little research targets these impacts.

New Zealand’s QMS is a data hungry beast and it is starving.

As with all markets, not all behaviours that are incentivised are virtuous. There is money to be made or saved by dumping catches for which ACE is unavailable or too expensive, from poaching and falsifying catch returns. These behaviours have seriously distorted New Zealand’s catch data for decades.

This includes massive dumping of unwanted catch and underreported bycatch, including endangered dolphins and sealions.

Compounding this is the low level of onboard observer coverage (about 8.4% in offshore fisheries and less than 1% inshore) and the lack of effective enforcement.

An independent review of New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) handling of illegal fish and dolphin dumping revealed industry capture of the regulator, involving flawed processes and inappropriate conduct.

A senior MPI manager admitted that: … discarding is a systemic failure

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of the current system and something we have not been able to get on top of from day 1 of the QMS. Thus, the QMS is not just starved of data: what little data it gets is highly questionable. MPI itself, succinctly illustrates the situation in the below diagram.

New Zealand’s fishers are firmly trapped in the cycle of non-reporting. The recent government decision to place electronic monitoring and CCTV cameras on every vessel indicates the gravity of the situation. This, however, does nothing to remove the perverse incentives inherent in the QMS itself.

Comprehensive review needed The QMS has undermined jobs and livelihoods - just five large companies own over 80% of quota, and 60% of the offshore catch is taken by foreign charter vessels (FCVs) under contract to New Zealand fishing companies. These FCVs arrive with foreign crew, denying employment to New Zealanders, and outsource value added processing to Asia.

For decades FCVs, have been associated with the inhumane treatment of migrant fishersworking in slave-like conditions. Despite new laws, abusive treatment has continued.

Concentration of quota in the hands of a few has resulted in

many disenfranchised fishers.

There is a sense of hopelessness over their activities and alienation from the management of the resource they depend on. Tellingly, Iceland, a nation strongly associated with fishing, described ITQs as feudal, quota holders as lords of the seas and fishermen as serfs.

Just last month, the Faroese Islands’ fishing industry overwhelmingly rejected a quota management system. They had too many questions and too little evidence to support adoption of a QMS. Ultimately, we need to lower the QMS from its undeserved pedestal, acknowledge its limitations and move forward through open and honest debate. We should also look beyond our own shores for ideas, as New Zealand is not the only country wrestling with these problems.

There are lessons to be learned from New Zealand’s QMS, and they are not all good. After 30 years, New Zealand’s fisheries management needs a comprehensive review.

We acknowledge the contribution of Philip Clarke, a former forensic scientist and fisheries compliance investigator for the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries.

Authors

Glenn Simmons Research Fellow, University of Auckland Bruce Robertson Associate Professor in Wildlife Management and Conservation Genomics, University of Otago (David) Hugh Whittaker Professor of Japanese economy and business, University of Oxford Elisabeth Slooten Professor in Zoology and Marine Science, University of Otago Fiona McCormack Economic/environmental anthropologist, University of Waikato Graeme Bremner Associate professor Nigel Haworth Professor of human resource development, University of Auckland Simon Francis Thrush Director of the Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland Steve Dawson Professor, University of Otago Partners University of Oxford provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK. University of Waikato provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.

Oh the poor commercial fishers!!!

We heard on national TV recently where several commercial fishers were bleating that cameras on boats will wreck ‘way of life’.

Really.

After years of pillage of the oceans and the reality that they are highly likely to be filmed is finally sinking home. And they only have themselves to blame.

If they don’t like it then they should change jobs.

They stated that this way of life is being threatened by new regulations imposed by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) that could see cameras installed on board all vessels, along with GPS equipment and digital catch logging - all at the cost of the vessel operators.

These guys are now dreaming up ways to argue against the legislation.

They say that many members of their whānau use the boat outside of their day-to-day business.

“These are cultural things we utilise our vessel for that are not part of fishing and we don’t want [MPI] seeing what we’re doing. It’s a very cultural and personal experience.”

He says the industry is being monitored to an “ab-

solute disgusting degree”.

Yet he misses the point that the levels of dishonesty, deceit and corruption have forced the MPI to take action.

The ministry says that the new regulations will promote sustainability, helping them to crack down on fish dumping and provide more accurate estimates of protected species bycatch - that is, a species of fish or shellfish that is caught unintentionally, or that is undersize.

According to an MPI consultation document, 24 hours a day camera surveillance of this kind is allowed under the Search and Surveillance Act 2012, as long as it monitors fishing or transportation for the purpose of regulating or controlling fishing and the possession, processing, and disposal of fish.

The exact rules about the use of cameras, including the length of time that cameras will be required to run, are yet to be finalised.

He says it’s an issue he thinks all New Zealanders should be concerned about. The idea that this could be the start of a surveillance scheme that could encompass all industries, it reminds us of certain countries

we would never want to be like.

However this lame excuse fails to recognize the culpability that fishers have to undertake because of a rotten few. The industry continues to lie and deny responsibility, and continues the deceitful practices today. Nothing has changed they have just got more clever and found better ways of hiding the dumping discard and high grading.

Since passing the regulations, the ministry has been developing the exact rules for how these will work in practice. The process for GPS tracking and digital catch logging included notifying all permit holders and industry groups about consultation on the draft rules and meeting with industry groups representing all fishing types.

Consultancy regarding the rules around camera regulations is expected to begin in October and the industry will be able to raise their concerns during this time. The MPI expects this will give them an opportunity to address privacy concerns.

They estimate the camera equipment and installation to cost up to $18,000, with up to $2000 extra for service costs.

SECRET FISHING DEALS We found this article posted on a very public forum on social media recently by former Sunday Star Times reporter Michael Field, who did most of the reporting in 2010-2014 about slavery on NZ foreign charter vessels.

Last month we published an article titled Foreign fishing crews still getting ripped off http://www.fishingoutdoors.org/ fishing-information/saltwater-fishing-articles/2732-foreign-fishingcrews-still-getting-ripped-off.html Where Sanfords were implicated in failing to pay fishing crews and were fined.

It seems that having paid off and silenced the crew, its business as usual?

The article can be read online at: https://www.facebook.com/mjfield/media_set?set=a.1015683204 1738066.1073741897.518203065&t ype=3&pnref=story (pasted below) When I was writing The Catch (Awa 2014) I knew of dozens of cases where fishermen working New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone were grossly... underpaid and exploited by the fishing companies.

Among them were around 500 mainly Indonesian men working for the South Korean companies Dong Won Fisheries Co Ltd, Juahm Industries Co Ltd and GOM Company Ltd.

The three companies were working under charter of Sanford Ltd, the NZX listed Auckland company controlled by the family of Peter Goodfellow, the chairman of the National Party.

The 500 men eventually left their ship and eventually joined in a legal action seeking payment of wages entitled to them. A law suit was launched, seeking $17 million, which is about $34,000 for each man.

This was a classic case of the poor man taking on big business. And, of course, they lost.

The fishing industry hired heavy hitting Queen Street lawyers and eventually the fishermen had to settle. With no admission that they had been exploited, the Koreans agreed to pay $3 million – about $6000 per man.

The Third World fishermen were mugged for around $28,000 each.

The Settlement Agreement published here was meant to be a secret.

All sides agreed, at the cost of losing the deal, to not mention any of it.

As a journalist, I was interested in the paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2.

They say that the lawyer for the fishermen will withdraw any Official Information Act applications they had to the Ministry of Business and Employment for docu-

ments. In addition, if they had already received such documents they agreed to destroy them.

I have applied to MBIE for the documents. It’s quite a process, over 6000 pages. One can see in the list that Sanford documents are included. MBIE have extended the time line on the process to provide the documents – and they have now further extended so that the documents cannot be released during the election campaign.

This is the price of fish.

We have posted copies of the secret agreement on our website at www.fishingoutdoors.org

LOOKING FOR A BOAT RAMP? Check out our website www.fishingoutdoors.org For New Zealand’s most comprehensive Boat Ramps Listings

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Advocacy group challenges MSC ratings A group of nonprofits, food retailers, Members of Parliament, and marine conservation activists have formed a new advocacy group in the United Kingdom to challenge the Marine Stewardship Council’s certification of the world’s largest tuna fishery.

The group is led by celebrity chef and environmental activist Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and includes retailers American Tuna, Migros, World Wise Foods, Ocean Harvesters Operative, Woolworths South Africa; nonprofits Bloom, the Blue Marine Foundation, the David Suzuki Foundation, the Ecology Action Centre, Fish Tales, and the Animal Welfare Institute, among others; UK Members of Parliament; and the University of York, New York University, Dalhousie University, University of Massachusetts, and University of West of England.

In a letter sent to the MSC, the group has asked for the immediate halt of an ongoing recertification of the tuna fishery in waters controlled by the Parties to the Nauru Agreement,

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Chinese Fishery Group files bankruptcy

Four of China Fishery Group’s most prized assets are up for sale as a result of the multinational fishing and seafood conglomerate’s ongoing bankruptcy proceedings. which includes the Federated States On the Hook said in a letter sent The China Fishery Group filed for of Micronesia, Kiribati, the Marshall Is- to MSC this week. “Therefore, our bankruptcy in New York City recently. lands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guin- position is that the entire fishery Interest has been high from fishing ea, the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu. must be assessed for its suitability companies in China and Russia, and The total annual tuna catch in PNA to meet the MSC standard for it to they may have the edge given their waters is around 1.6 million metric be certified. As you know, this has financial resources and reserves, tons, including about 50 percent not happened with the PNA fishery.” which allow them to plan 20 to 25 of the world’s supply of skipjack In a response to On the Hook, the years in advance, versus “private tuna. About half of the total tuna organization said MSC stated it will equity guys who look at a busicatch from PNA waters, or about not intervene in the recertification ness horizon of four to five years.

790,000 metric tons, is MSC-certified. process being undertaken by Acoura In order to recoup as much of the In 2011, the MSC certified skip- Marine. The MSC recently announced estimated USD 1.7 billion in debt jack caught in PNA waters using it will be reviewing its standards, but owed by China Fishery Group, Decertain methods of fishing as sus- the process will not be completed tainable, and followed that up in until August 2018 at the earliest.

2016 by certifying yellowfin tuna If Acoura Marine recertifies the PNA caught using approved methods. tuna fishery, it would be valid for On the Hook has criticized that deci- five years, making 2022 the ear& Game recently ansion, as the certification allows fishing liest date at which the fishery’s Fish that Martin Taylor vessels to catch tuna using MSC-cer- certification could be revisited. nounced tified methods to also fish in non- By considering the re-certification of will take over as Chief Executive. certified methods in the same trip. the PNA fishery, the MSC is not only Martin Taylor has wide experi“Considering whether the entire fish- putting its reputation on the line, ence in the corporate sector. He ery is suitable for MSC certification is but also the reputations of the retail- has also been chair of the Welnot only the correct way, it should be ers and other crucial stakeholders. lington Fish & Game Council and is presently working for the Capital the only way to assess the suitabilCoast DHB as a project manager. ity of a fishery for MSC certification,”

velopment Specialists, Inc. the New York-based financial restructuring and advisory firm is soliciting bids for CFG Investment SAC and Corporación Pesquera Inca SAC, which together hold a sizeable percentage of Peru’s lucrative anchovy fishing quota. The firm is also directing the sale of CFG Investment and Copeinca, the owners and operators of a 50-vessel fishing fleet and 10 processing plants in Peru.

Chinese banks may come in encouraged by Chinese government to offer loans – there are all these parts you don’t normally see in a straight sale, and that has everything to do with the worldwide implica-

tions of this particular business.

The Chinese see the strategic importance of these assets in the food chain. For them, this is not different from buying a nickel mine in Australia to keep the Chinese economy humming and stocked with raw materials.

The Chinese government would be very happy to tie up largest slice of fishmeal quota in Peru. So the price reflects not just the current financial situation of the fishmeal market and how El Niño has affected it, but also the fact that it an asset of increasing importance to global food stocks and the ability to grow and harvest aquaculture.

Right person for Fish and Game role

China bump up environmental clean-up efforts China’s desire to pursue ambitious mariculture plans is bumping up against a new government effort to clean up coastal waters.

A new series of “redline” zones where various forms of industry are forbidden includes much of the Bohai Gulf region around Shandong Province – including key seafood production hubs like Qingdao and Yantai.

The redline zones, listed in a five-

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year plan running from 2016 to 2020, are the latest evidence China is taking significant steps to address chronic pollution of its coastal waters. But it’s not clear if aquaculture and mariculture operations are included in the list of activities prohibited in the new redline zones.

Between 12 and 17 percent of coastal waters are “severely polluted.

Government representatives have

said they want 70 percent of coastal waters categorized “good” by 2017, compared to 50 percent of waters that held that classification in 2004.

China’s aquaculture sector is centered on the country’s east coast, which is also home to key manufacturing belts. It remains to be seen how China will be able shut down polluting industries given local official protectionism.

The chair of Fish & Game’s New Zealand Council, Lindsay Lyons, is delighted with Mr Taylor’s appointment.

“Martin’s the right person for this

demanding role. He’s highly qualified, an experienced leader and politically astute,” Mr Lyons says.

“He’s also a mad keen angler and loves the outdoors and New Zealand’s wild places, so from our point of view, this is a perfect combination. We are delighted to have him on board.”

The fight for the environment isn’t over and there are huge challenges ahead, but with Martin’s appointment, Fish & Game is well placed to meet them.

Martin Taylor says he is delighted

with his new role. “I am honoured to have been appointed to such an important and high profile position.

I am determined to make sure New Zealand’s rivers, lakes and streams are swimmable, fishable and safe to gather food from,” Mr Taylor says.

“I am also committed to ensuring that kiwi families retain their access to the outdoors so our children can grow up enjoying our unique mountains, bush and waterways.”

Working for the Government

Ray and Bob, two Government maintenance guys, were standing at the base of a flagpole, looking up.

A woman walked by and asked what they were doing.

“We’re supposed to find the height of the flagpole”, said Bob, “But we don’t have a ladder.”

The woman said, “Hand me that wrench out of your toolbox.”

She loosened a few bolts, then laid the pole down.

She then took a tape measure from their toolbox, took a measurement and announced, “Eighteen feet, six inches” and walked away.

Ray shook his head and laughed. “Ain’t that just like a ‘Miss-know-it-all’ woman?” he said. “We need the height and she gave us the length!”

Ray and Bob are still working for the Government.

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10

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1080 THE NEVER ENDING STORY

By Alfred Harris & Graham Carter

Hiding behind the aspirational goal of a predator free New Zealand is an ecological nonsense. By pretending that New Zealand can be predator free this National-led Government evades the much more important question of whether the legislated goal of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) should be to eliminate the use of poisons altogether rather than just to set rules for their safe use.

Ecologically speaking there is no safe poison. The active ingredient in 1080 is monofluoroacetate. In 2011 scientists discovered a new metabolic pathway involved in mammalian blood formation that is blocked by fluoroacetates.

In her 2011 report the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment claimed that there was a sufficient body of evidence supporting the continued use of 1080. Like the Prime Minister’s Chief Science adviser and the EPA’s Chief Scientist, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) claims that policy decisions should be based on evidence.

That evidence is scientific evidence.

These ex-scientists in political positions imply that scientific evidence is fixed and final. Any “scientific evidence” is only as good as the results of the last piece of research. Darwin believed, on the basis of good scientific evidence, that continents didn’t move. How wrong he was on that one! Oh, and remember thalidomide? How good was that science?

As Greenpeace well knows market perceptions are much, much more powerful than all the scientific evidence in the world. Use of any poisons close to where animals are farmed has a substantial market risk no matter how safe science ‘proves’ a poison to be. To reassure markets during the anonymous 2014/15 threat to lace infant formula with 1080, the Government and dairy sector were forced to develop a test for and launch a

massive testing program for 1080 in dairy foods. In a country so economically dependent on food exports EPA should be addressing the question of whether there is any safe level of any poison use on or near farms.

Poisons like 1080 are only publically acceptable as a short term strategy while the Government works on more politically acceptable longterm ecological solutions preferably giving NZ exporters a market advantage. However, poison formulation, manufacture and spreading is now a profitable State Owned Enterprise with substantial export markets.

The business of mixing toxins and later manufacturing finished bait products began in the 1950s under the direction and funding of the Ministry of Agriculture and the New Zealand Forest Service for the agencies involved in controlling a wide range of introduced vertebrate pests including rabbits, pigs, goats, wallabies, possums, and rooks. In 1991 Animal Control Products (ACP) was established as a registered company, initially a Crown Owned Company and subsequently a State Owned Enterprise (SOE). Its two shareholders are the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Primary Industry.

From 1996, ACP diversified and expanded its product range, designing, manufacturing and marketing products under the registered trade name PESTOFF. In 2016 Orillion became the new trading name of ACP and according to its website now develops, sources and manufactures a full spectrum of pest control poisons.

Given the importance of food exports to the NZ economy, common sense dictates that the Government should use taxpayer funded research to reduce poison use as much and as fast as possible. One of the biggest problems with poisoning is getting pests to consume sufficient poison to kill

them at their first feed. If the first feed is insufficient to kill then they become bait shy and are much more difficult to kill. As long ago as 1999 NZ research identified additions to bait that increased consumption and reduced bait shyness. It seems a no-brainer to focus tax-payer funded research on improving the efficiency and decreasing the cost of such “smart baits”.

For those involved in the business of bait spreading any reduction in bait use is a threat to business. It is of public concern that one of the directors of Orillion is the owner and CEO of Christchurch Helicopters for whom the notion of a predator free NZ largely through the use of poisons is extremely good business.

EPA’s Chief Scientist reassures us that gene-edited sex may be the answer to NZ’s pest predator problems! It is irresponsible for a person in her position to publically suggest a solution carrying as much if not a greater perception of risk than 1080 in NZ’s international markets. In addition, gene-editing requires costly proof of concept research and implementation.

Let’s hope the Government pulls its head out of the sand, recognises that ALL poison use is risky in our international markets and moves to fund adequately the development of practical solutions with positive marketing spinoffs.

We are not holding our breath! http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/ journal.pone.0023850 http://newzealandecology.org/nzje/2085.pdf https://www.companiesoffice. govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/ companies/441007/shareholdings http://www.orillion.com/about/ https://www.grassland.org.nz/ images/newsletters/49_Christmas_Newsletter_2016.pdf

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Anger at Police Failure Re Alleged Poaching Police

by John McNab

An Independent Police Conduct Authority investigation has exposed”multiple shortcomings” in a police investigation of alleged poaching by two police officers in Central Otago. But has seemingly contradicted its own findings by concluding the decision not to prosecute the officers was “reasonable and justifiable on public interest grounds”.

It has left Sporting Hunters Outdoor Trust spokesman Laurie Collins of Westport puzzled and also frustrated.

“If you break the law regardless of who you are, there should be consequences,” he said. “After all the public has every right to expect good behaviour by the police relative to the laws of the country.”

He said the apparent “whitewash-

ing” was bad public relations for the police and undermined confidence by the public in the police.

Others involved in the incident have reacted similarly. Omakau farmer Steve Brown was reported as “incredibly disappointed and let down” by the IPCA’s decisions. He said the whitewash set a dangerous precedent that might make it difficult to bring other poaching prosecutions.

Shannon Parker, whose watchdog group the New Zealand Police Conduct Association represented a group of hunters who also complained about the case, said her criticisms of the double standards for police and members of the public for illegal hunting prosecutions remained.

Other critics of the whitewash used words like “hypocritical” and

“double standards”. One person who did not wish to be named called it “selective law enforcement.”

Strangely the IPCA report found shortcomings with the police investigation and suggested the two Christchurch officers received favourable treatment. It gave the impression police were treating the off-duty officers favourably and the matter was being “covered up”, the report said. Yet the IPCA report said the two officers accused of illegal hunting should have been given formal warnings, and then said the decision not to prosecute was reasonable.

The police were public servants, meant to be serving the public interest but had failed badly on the double investigations.

Bring Back the Bounty – $10 Per Possum

by John McNab

The Ban 1080 Party has announced a “Bring Back the Bounty” on possums policy. Co-leader Clyde Graf said the Ban 1080 party was committed to ensuring the environment was managed in a sustainable, safe and non-toxic way - safe for wildlife and communities.

“Currently around 2000 tons of 1080 poison bait was aerially spread across New Zealand forests and dropped directly into waterways, every year,” he said.

“The Bring Back the Bounty initiative will result in healthy forests, targeted and humane wild animal control, and happier, richer communities. It’s a win-winwin” said the party’s West CoastTasman candidate Peter Salter.

The project would engage communities in wild animal management and pay out on results, not poison use. A reward of $10 per possum

tail, and $25 per stoat/ferret/weasel tail would be paid. It was expected that two groups of expertise will emerge from the program - possum hunters, and stoat-ferret hunters.

Trappers would be able to use the possums as they wished, so in many cases, increase their income and at the same time supply product for the lucrative possum industry, he said. A premium would be paid for mustelids because there were fewer of them.

“The National Government has earmarked $40 million for community pest control projects. This block of money is likely to be directed into existing groups and organisations, and most likely into those using persistent poisons like 1080 and brodifacoum - both of which are produced by the government-owned company Orillion (www.orillion.com).”

The Ban 1080 Party would redirect this money toward funding the first year of the Bring Back the Bounty project, and would employ targeted and more humane wild animal management.

Research showed aerially spread 1080 poison caused rat plagues, and instability within ecosystems said Clyde Graf.

Research also showed 1080 poison killed rats (the main diet of stoats and ferrets) in the short term, but often failed to reduce stoat and ferret populations and caused them to switch prey to birds and often to kiwi as demonstrated in Mt Bruce and in the Tongariro Kiwi Sanctuary. On-going aerial 1080 poison drops had resulted in kiwi now being extinct in the Pureora Forest Park, where before aerial 1080 drops, kiwi thrived in the perfectly suited podocarp forest.

COUNCIL DECIDE SHOOTING AND CAMPING ILLEGAL Auckland Council has changed how it interprets the Resource Management Act, by denying that there is a provision for some level of discharge under section 5.5.41 of the act.

It has recently revoked a certificate of compliance for the Auckland Shooting Club on the basis that there “may be” discharge of contaminants, despite a High Court ruling that the activity is allowed, and processes in place to ensure that no discharge will occur. Auckland Council was required by the High Court to simply reconsider the issue of the certificate taking into account the discharge permitted under the act.

On 19 December of last year, Auckland Council wrote in a letter that the Auckland Shooting Club ranges “….may need consent to discharge contaminants in the long term, at this stage there is no

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evidence of any discharge to trigger the need for a discharge consent.”

However, Auckland Council has reversed its own interpretation that it has applied to all permitted activities until now.

The RMA prohibits any discharge unless there is a specific rule. As Auckland Council has decided on its own that the only rule that allows for discharge up to a certain level has no meaning, there is no provision for any activity that has a small discharge. This means that legally Auckland Council can’t ‘give you a pass’ because a discharge is small. By its own interpretation, Auckland Council no longer has a legal basis for allowing even small discharges and must require a consent for any discharge.

Auckland Council has now made many past-times illegal for New Zealanders in the Auckland region.

The result of this Auckland Council decision is that no minimum discharge is allowed without

consent. This means that no matter where you live in Auckland the following will require resource consent for every property on which they are conducted: • pest control shooting (e.g. possums); • duck shooting; • other shooting for hunting purposes; • target shooting of any kind; • camping • painting your house; • building where there is any runoff- e.g. from concrete slabs; • etc.

There will be many other things that you now cannot do without a resource consent. Using Wet and Forget? - Forget It. This will now need resource consent.

The application fee alone for a discharge resource consent is $11,500, and you will need consultant reports and be required to pay any other council costs. All discharge consents will also require iwi consultation.

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Pigeons creating havoc on farmland Some dairy farmers are reporting to have large flocks of pigeons and other birds winging their way into feasting on the leftovers of palm kennel after the cows have moved off.

In several cases the birds are beating the cows to the feed and decimating pasture before the cows even get there.

One farmer near Matamata has allowed a group of shooters to clean up the birds to give his cows an even break and reduce the huge number of birds causing significant damage.

When you get several hundred birds dining in one area the mess they make is astronomical.

Once the birds know that there is a regular supply of feed available they keep returning and causing damage.

Around many parts of the countryside you’ll seldom see any native birds unlike the sparrows, mynas, starlings, blackbirds, thrushes, geese, ducks, magpies

and pigeons, who are always about.

Many countryside birds will eat pretty much anything and is a common sight around the local cowsheds, where they feast on the palm kernel and maize silage farmers feed the cows when fresh grass is in short supply.

Pigeons will pretty much eat anything, from their roost in the phoenix palms they head off every morning for feeding grounds unknown. Pigeons have no truck with humans, coming and going in synchronised precision without as much as a ‘by your leave’.

Magpies are also elusive critters. However, the moment they see you looking they are gone, disdain or maybe suspicion writ large in their expression.

Pigeons, pukeko, magpies, starlings, ducks, geese and sparrows are all humble little creatures which efficiently take care of food waste. Once

eaten, this waste is nicely deposited leaving a neat source of fertiliser.

Friends have often justified their sport by informing me that the pukeko eats grass that would otherwise produce milk or meat and needs to be kept under control.

The wild pukeko is an elusive creature. The pukeko has taken on a domesticated quality and will come racing when food is on offer. All legs, it is quite a sight to see striding about competing with the ducks and other birds for scraps.

Ducks have a good intellect and their emotional response to life should not be underestimated.

It’s amazing how quickly a kilo or two of grain will disappear and how much damage can happen in a short space of time.

If you are having pasture damage problems call 021 334464 or 0273 352824.

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for the Birds” and its associated 1080 mega-drops. on the strength of that was a very direct cause and effect. The National-led government then created Predator Free 2050.

“Regardless of whether or not it’s realistic, the focus is on where it needs to be on predators. That’s all good stuff on biodiversity,” she said.

But Bill Wallace said “It’s difficult to think of someone who has done more harm to New Zealand’s environment than Jan Wright, apart of course from Minister of Conservation Maggie Barry and Minister

for the Environment, Nick Smith.

Wairarapa angler-conservationist and author Bill Benfield said the whole Predator Free NZ was “a cashdriven, myopic campaign which will ultimately destroy everything that is precious in New Zealand.”

Bill Benfield has authored two books on the “ecological blundering around imagined pests and the use of poisons”.

Tony Orman, past chairman Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations said Dr Wright was clearly out of her depth.

Plastic shotgun wads are a becoming an issue whereas the Biodegradable fibre wads are a preferred option, they are available but not widely used. It may take some time for them to take over from plastic wadding.

There are companies in the US working on high performance, non-toxic and biodegradable options for game shooting.

You can find the plastic wads all over the place, certainly on the banks of many rivers, on farmland and on some beaches which ultimately end up in the sea, where they are ingested by marine animals - birds, fish, turtles etc.

work from Allen Stancliff (Taranaki Fish & Game) and some high-tech modelling by Mariana Horigome (MetOcean Solutions) we’ve been getting to the bottom of where the shotgun wads are coming from and how far they travel once in the ocean.

Check out this awesome blog from MetOcean Solutions explaining how they have used the MetOceanTrack modelling tool to trace the movements of shotgun wads around the Taranaki coast. The animation is incredible!

Here’s a wee blog of what we’ve been finding in Taranaki https://www.hotspot.org.nz/project.../plastic-shotgun-wads/

Retiring Environment Commissioner Challenged Over 1080 Praise

by James Speedy

The retiring Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment claims that opposition to 1080 is declining has been strongly refuted by the Ban 1080 Party and others.

In an interview with Forest and

Bird magazine, Dr. Jan Wright said she thought 1080 was an outstanding toxin to combat predators. In the article Dr Wright said she thought of 1080 ‘Wow, this is amazing, it’s actually re-

ally good and we need more of it’.

Party chairman Bill Wallace said the Department of Conservation’s own satisfaction surveys showed the opposite to what Dr. Wright was claiming.

“They are quite concerned how much opposition is growing” Mr. Wallace said.

One aim of his Ban 1080 political party was to get people to talk about the issue.

Dr. Wright said 1080 was the only way to deal with predators at the moment.

She hands over to former National MP Simon Upton next month.

In the interview Dr Wright said she knew nothing about 1080 but with her team looked at every aspect very thoroughly. She praised Minister for the Environment Nick Smith for his courage to launch the “Battle

“That’s with all due respect to her as a person, but her qualifications have little or nothing to do with the environment, biology, zoology or nature. She has a physics under graduate degree and her doctorate is in public policy. As I understand, Nick Smith’s degree is in civil engineering while Maggie Barry’s qualification was as tv gardening host.”

Incoming Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton has degrees in English literature, music and law and was a Rhodes scholar.

Out of the wild petfood

Plastic Shotgun Wads - good or bad Introducing lead shot into the environment isn’t ideal, but tell that to all of the fishermen out there who lose lead sinkers.

Lead shot has been blamed for poisoning wild game but the science is rubbish and not true.

The funny thing is that when shooting over water (such as the Waikato River) the missed shot sinks to the bottom and sinks through to oblivion.

To say there’s a threat to ducks eating shot, you’ve missed the Elephant in the room, in that ducks foraging in a maize patch or pea patch are much more liable to ingesting shot, than a duck dabbling in a river or pond!.

The Litter Legends from Oakura School found some plastic shotgun wads during their Project Hotspot fieldtrip to the Tapuae Marine Reserve. Ever since we’ve been finding plastic shotgun wads washed up on beaches all around the Taranaki coastline.

Thanks to some top detective

11

Out of the Wild is a family business that strives to give your pet the best petfood they can be eating at an affordable cost out of the wild sources of wild game from around New Zealand which is high in protein, omegas, vitamins and other natural minerals.

All animals that are harvested come from poison free and TB free areas.

We have 20 odd hunters that regularly supply us.

For them to do so they have to past a harvester’s exam and also provide

GPS marks of their kills so that it is traceable through the whole process We also harvest a lot of the product ourselves as we have our own pest control crew.

Their products are unique as they offer a lot of different flavours and a comprehensive range compared to other petfood companies as there is only really beef lamb/mutton and chicken available elsewhere.

They have found a lot of people coming to them as their pets are

allergic or have allergies to the above flavours Also another great thing they believe is that it is good that none of the animals are farmed so they haven’t been drenched or had growth hormones or antibiotics which they believe is better for your pets as its more natural.

Although their DNA remains the same and their tastes demand something of the wild, ‘Out of the wild’ dog and cat food provides them with all the best nutrition available today.

The range is made from minced and cubed possum, rabbit/hare, goat, venison, turkey and wallaby they also stock diced goat and venison.

They also do a lot of 50/50 mixes possum/goat, possum/venison, and possum/wallaby as they believe possum is the best thing they can be eating.

For your bigger dogs they do possum chunks, rabbit chunks, possum back steaks and goat and venison bones.

They freight NZ wide so if your pets are not eating any of the out of the wild petfood range they are not eating the best.

Hunters - dog lovers Out of the Wild Petfood is a company that sources wild game from New Zealand which is high in protein, omegas, viamins and other natural minerals.

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fering up to 25HP extra on selected purchases of Evinrude engines. Call on Kev & Ian’s Marine at 18 Mahia Road, Manurewa, Auckland or call them on (09) 267 4999 to take advantage of this amazing offer.

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So, if you’re thinking of buying a boat or repowering your existing boat, pop into Kev and Ian’s Marine and ask FOR A BIT MORE from EVINRUDE. We want to make your summer A BIT MORE Thrilling and to help make it sweet-as we are giving away a whole lot of FREE HORSES. Starting in October, and for a limited time, Evinrude Dealers are of-

In early spring with calving in full swing and grass in short supply pastures frequently show the tell-tale white dusting of urea. What began as a short-term measure to promote grass growth in spring and autumn is on some farms a routine application on a grazed out paddock.

We learnt in the 1960s that the blanket use of DDT as an insecticide affected ecosystems above and beyond the target pests. Nearly sixty years later we are starting to understand how urea from both the fertiliser bag and the rear end of cows has unintended consequences on pasture composition, soil structure and water quality.

Long-term use of urea changes the types of plants growing in pasture and changes soil microbial ecosystems responsible for maintaining soil structure and fertility.

Research and modelling predicted optimal pasture productivity from pastures with a 20-30% clover composition and nitrogen fertiliser rates of 100-200kgN/ha/ year. Use of urea at higher concentrations throughout the whole year is a vicious circle contributing in a large part to the eventual demise of clover in pastures.

Ryegrass takes up urea much better than clover. A ryegrass growth flush stimulated by urea can be very difficult to manage. Ryegrass can very easily out-compete clover for light.

In addition, running more cows per hectare results in more damage to pastures and more frequent grazing almost to ground level, especially in winter. Monocultures

of ryegrass are not as nutritious as ryegrass/clover mixes, so more urea is applied to increase dry matter.

Easily assimilable nitrogen such as urea from either the fertiliser hopper or the rear end of cows also stimulates the growth of soil microbes. In their search for the carbon needed for growth microbes first use up the soil humus carbon reserve. Then they use up the more resistant organic carbon needed to cement soil particles together.

Soil becomes less and less of a sponge and nutrient laden water flows more easily from the ground into streams, rivers and lakes.

Dairying’s significant contribution to the NZ economy in the early years of the Key-led Government made it convenient to ignore the environmental cost of this economic gain.

A 2017 OECD report describes this growth model based largely on exploiting natural resources as starting to show its environmental limits. Some estimates put the environmental cost of intensive dairying at $0.40 in every $1.00 profit.

Along with coal and natural gas used to dry much of NZ’s milk powder exports, the other significant agricultural greenhouse gas footprint is the natural gas used to manufacture urea. The Kapuni urea plant was one of the Muldoon Government’s think big projects.

When first opened, 80% of the urea production was exported. Since its purchase by farmer co-op BOP Fertiliser, the plant has been expanded by Ballance Agri-nutrients (Ballance) in 1997 to increase pro-

duction by 30%. Urea production is now insufficient to meet the demand of the NZ market. Caution is needed in drawing straight lines between two points. However, it is in the twenty years of dairy expansion, intensification and increased urea use that the now widely acknowledged national reduction in water quality has occurred.

Ballance is talking with prospective partners about a potential $US500 million expansion to the Kapuni plant predicted to increase urea production by 30%. Gas industry reports suggest that this would lift gas use by nearly 9% and supply approximately 70% of current North Island use. Future expansion of the Kapuni plant could allow Ballance to compete in the Australian market.

Many farmers will be able to offset all of their greenhouse emissions by sequestering carbon in meat, milk, wool, bone, hides as well as the soil. Urea assisted intensification increases agriculture’s greenhouse gas footprint as well as depleting soil carbon pools. Farmers deserve independent tax-payer funded research on the real cost of excessive urea use and in developing alternatives for increasing productivity while reducing agriculture’s greenhouse gas footprint. http://www.tandfonline.com/ doi/pdf/10.1080/00288233.19 96.9513173?needAccess=true http://www.oecd.org/newzealand/environmental-pressuresrising-in-new-zealand.htm gasindustry.co.nz/ dmsdocument/4771

Phone: 09 267 4999 Email: fishing@kev.co.nz 18 Mahia Road, Manurewa Auckland

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Letter to editor Bluefin tuna fishery in bad condition

Dear Sir Many years ago a group of us did a 48 hour trip on one of the Whakatane Charter launches out from Westport after Blue Fin Tuna.

On that trip we caught seven tuna up to 300kg. We caught and landed one southern Bluefin Tuna and one northern Bluefin Tuna. The other five we released.

At the time there were two NZ Hoki boats and one black rust bucket of a boat working the Hoki as well. I was told by the skipper that it was a Taiwanese boat which they described as and called there dog eater boats.

Matt Watson was there as well on another big launch, everyone was getting big tuna great fun it was, those were the days it seems.

I was stunned halfway through our trip when the skipper said someone had a quota (commercial) licence to catch these beautiful fish. I said to him ‘you have just ruined my day’, obviously nothing is safe in our seas these days.

I was asked to go again this year with my mates but couldn’t go. When my mates came home I asked them how the trip went. Disaster my mate Ian Potts said, we got one tinny tuna and lost another much bigger fish at the boat. He said the fish aren’t there this year and last year was very poor according to the skipper. This tells me a disaster has happened for that fishery which does not surprise me at all.

Bluefin Tuna off Westport, we would see 3-4 Hoki boats working and they were filling up fast. This year my mates said it was total chaos. There were about 30 boats charging around the ocean, and you had to be careful so as to avoid having an accident. A lot of these Hoki boats were catching bugger all Hoki, while some had a fair bit.

My mate said one Hoki boat stopped dead in the water in front of them.

They asked what was wrong and the Hoki boat reported back that the net had hooked up on something and that their net was gone.

This means that every single Hoki they had in their net was going to die a slow death and gone to waste.

I can see this fishery ending up like the Orange Roughy did – totally ruined. Shame on the MPI. They are the ones responsible killing all our fish stocks. My mates said there were Taiwanese, Russian boats, you name it all hammering the hoki grounds. That says it all.

Dick Featherstone Thames

Publication so informative

Dear Sir Picked up my first ever Free copy of your Fishing and Outdoors August issue and what a surprise I got from the first page onwards. Throughout this publication were serious issues you also had with MPI decisions covering their inability to right the many wrongs under their care?

Dick Featherstone I did not realize your publication was Thames so informative and was very impressed from the front page to the back.

MPI killing the hoki Being very aware and interested in grounds the state of our oceans, rivers and the Dear Sir treatment of animals in NZ the very Six years ago while out fishing for mention of MPI makes me ashamed.

Ashamed that they continually turn a blind eye, especially regarding all forms of commercial fishing in NZ waters. The article on Salmon on your front page is the tip of the iceberg.

Ashamed also with the treatment of farming animals throughout NZ. All because of GREED. I have on many occasions emailed MPI regarding these and as you would know their response is so predictable. The state of our rocks and foreshore stripped of all marine life ?? NOT INTERESTED. What can I/we do personally to help Fishing and Outdoors make MPI be accountable for their obscene and serious consequences that effect all NZ and will do for generations .

I do not fish or hunt although I did many years ago. The world has changed dramatically since then and NZ is being raped and pillaged at an alarming rate.

Keep up with your very informative publication and will eagerly await September issue for informative journalism.

Christine Chapple THAMES

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Just Who Did Win the Election?

by Rupert Pye

In case you may not have noticed, there has just been an election.

Who won?

National is jubilant but examination of voting shows they got less than 50% of votes. It was 46%.

That is because of MMP. Some will say the MMP system is flawed. Others will say it allows minor parties to participate and that is democracy to the hilt.

As I saw it no party can be fully satisfied. National may be smug but they are depending on a minor party to shore them up. After all, minor parties in United Future and the Maori sycophantly backed National during the last three years. However election 2017 saw United Future and the Maori Party both rejected by voters.

The minor party National will seek to cuddle in to will be NZ First.

NZ First will be receptive because it gives them some strong bargaining power because it knows National has no other option.

NZ First will not be sycophantic like Maori or United Future.

There is a possibility of a LabourNZ First - Greens government but NZ First is not at all keen on a number of the Greens more bizarre policies. Compromise will be needed. Because NZ First is in a bargaining position again it can

be argued it has come out of the election best, but it will be disappointed that it did not get 12% or 15% and thereby more MPs. A big loss to NZ First is that Richard Prosser their outdoor recreation spokesman is out as he was inexplicably ranked 15 on the list (he was number 3 in 2014) and NZ First scored 9 MPs. Mr Prosser was a champion on outdoor issues such as opposing 1080 poison, promoting recreational sea fisheries and other issues. NZ First is much poorer for his demise.

The next few weeks will reveal the outcome and the composition of the new government.

So if National is returned as government, expect more of the same, unless a coalition partner can put a rein on policy. Predator Free NZ by 2050 and aerial 1080 spreading, the fisheries quota system, dairying expansion, dirty rivers, irrigation subsidies, high country being sold to foreigners are just some of the policies which fishing and hunting and environmentally minded New Zealanders should be perturbed about. But were they?

Where were the “fishing and hunting and environmentally” New Zealanders at the polling booths - or on line voting?

It was admirable, election advertisements were run in this paper by the NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers, Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations and Sporting Hunters Outdoor Trust. Admirable was “Fishing and Outdoors” focus on the election campaign. Other outdoor publications showed on interest. Where also were the other organisations? NZ Fish and Game took space in “Fish and Game” magazine but it was a single token effort. NZ Deerstalkers Association seemed totally AWOL. Similarly where was the genuine fishing and hunting “Kiwi guy or gal” ?

A good friend across the harbour said to me on Sunday 24th September, one in two New Zealanders voted for National. By doing so they said there was no problem today whether it is the economy, housing, fishery, foreign land sales, rivers etc., National ran a very negative campaign of slagging led by Steven Joyce and Bill English. It worked. It did not say much for voter intelligence.

It will be business as usual for National if in government but much hinges on NZ First. They are the key to the next three years.

A man entered the bus with both of his front pockets full of golf balls and sat down next to a beautiful (you guessed it) blonde.

The puzzled blonde kept looking at him and his bulging pockets.

Finally, after many such glances from her, he said, ‘It’s golf balls’.

Nevertheless, the blonde continued to look at him for a very long time, deeply thinking about what he had said.

After several minutes, not being able to contain her curiosity any longer, she asked; ‹Does it hurt as much as tennis elbow?’

Mexicans were asked what they thought of Trump’s proposed wall They replied, “We are very upset... But we’ll get over it.”

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EPA WRONG ON ROUNDUP Feedback invited on EPA’s Chief Scientist claims evidence-based science is crucial in decision-making. There is an irreconcilable conflict between this claim and the implication in another article that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, is a safe chemical.

It may well be that current research suggests glyphosate is non-carcinogen. However there are no certainties in science, only the latest experimental results. Recent research suggests glyphosate blocks a crucial microbial metabolic pathway. This shikimate pathway is so widespread in microbes it is likely that glyphosate will affect all microbial ecologies affecting the health of soil, streams rivers and lakes, plants, animals and humans. Glyphosate may be effective but microbial research suggests that it is anything but safe.

It is potentially hazardous to human health and ecosystem function.

Genomes and genomics came to public attention in the much publicised human genome project.

Faster and more efficient methods for probing the human genome were applied to all sorts of other organisms including the bugs living in microbial ecosystems (microbiomes). A growing avalanche of research on these microbiomes and their genetics (microbiomics) shows how much bugs affect all aspects of human health, including

it would seem brain function. Molecular biology has fundamentally changed our understanding of evolution and focussing scientific and public attention on microbiomes.

We are indeed not alone in the universe. The aliens are not light years away. Myriad microorganisms preceded humans on this planet by millions if not billions of years. They created the atmosphere we breathe, the water we walk on and grow our food in..

In the same article trumpeting the safety of glyphosate, the EPA’s Chief Scientist took a pot-shot at Rachel Carson’s revelation in the 1960s of the potential ecological damage of the blanket use of DDT. It was this revelation that led to the establishment of the American EPA. The claim that Carson’s work linking DDT and bird populations has been largely disproved is at best a politically motivated half-truth.

If these utterances by EPA’s Chief Scientist have the sanction of this Government then the NZ EPA is a parody of the American EPA on which it is presumably modelled. Rachel Carson’s groundbreaking work alerted politicians and the public to the fact that environmental protection and human safety and health depend on ecosystem consideration.

Molecular biology extends Carson’s ground breaking work to include

the largely unseen but equally important microbial ecosystems that underpin all life on this planet.

Rachel Carson used scientific research to demonstrate to the public that using chemical sledgehammers to crack nuts has inevitable ecosystem consequences. Her work resulted in the establishment of the USA’s EPA. New Zealand EPA’s chief scientist claims that the regulatory environment in which it operates is informed by the evidence produced by research. If that is the case then there is an urgent need for the EPA to commission independent and thorough reviews of all available research on glyphosate, cadmium-containing superphosphates and zinc-containing facial eczema prophylactics. In particular, the public needs to understand the individual and cumulative effects of these compounds on the microbial ecologies that all life on this planet and human health depend upon.

It is simply not good enough for either the environment or public health and safety that EPA regulations are based on the science of last century and on protecting the fiscal concerns of current players including state owned enterprises. http://www.organic-systems.org/journal/92/abstracts/Swanson-et-al.html

The room was full of pregnant women and their partners.

The prenatal class was in full swing. The instructor was teaching the women how to breathe properly, and informing the men how to give the necessary assurances at this stage of the plan.

"Ladies, exercise is good for you," announced the teacher. "Walking is especially beneficial. And, gentlemen, it wouldn't hurt you to take the time to go walking with your partner!"

The room was very quiet. Finally, a man in the middle of the group raised his hand.

"Yes?" asked the instructor.

"Is it all right if she carries a fly rod while we walk?"

freedom camping bylaw Freedom camping is permitted in any local authority area under the Freedom Camping Act and a bylaw can be made to restrict or prohibit freedom camping from areas where there are environmental or access issues. However, a freedom camping bylaw must not completely prohibit freedom camping in all areas of the district.

Taupō District Council had previously put out its draft plan for public consultation, with some feedback suggesting it was too restrictive. There was also the possibility of legal action if the earlier draft bylaw was adopted, with groups suggesting the proposed

bylaw wasn’t in line with the intent of the Freedom Camping Act. Policy manager Nick Carroll said Taupō District Council had taken those community views on board and prepared a new draft bylaw, which was now available for the public to read and have their say on.

He said earlier suggestions to prohibit freedom camping from within 100 metres of the shore of Lake Taupō had been set aside, but the latest proposed bylaw suggested prohibiting freedom camping at Ferry Road.

While the bylaw does not prohibit freedom camping from around the lakeshore, there are other tools that

the council can use to address issues as they arise, such as signs and management plans for council reserves.

In reality there are very few places where freedom camping can take place along the shore of Lake Taupō with most of the lakeshore identified as reserve managed by council or the Department of Conservation.

That would mean freedom campers who aren’t in a certified selfcontained vehicle could only camp at Hipapatua/Reid’s Farm Recreation Reserve, Whakamaru Domain, Whakamaru Recreation Reserve and Mangakino Recreation Reserve.

OLD FART PRIDE

It’s not a bad thing to be called an Old Fart.

Old Farts are easy to spot at sporting events; during the National Anthem, Old Farts remove their hats and stand at attention and sing without embarrassment. They know the words and believe in them.

Old Farts remember World War II, Normandy, Spitfires and Hitler. They remember the Atomic Bomb, Vietnam, the Korean War, the Cold War, the Moon Landing and all the Peacekeeping Missions from 1945 to 2005.

If you bump into an Old Fart on the pavement, he will apologise. If you pass an Old Fart on the street, he will nod or tip his cap to a lady. Old Farts trust strangers and are polite, particularly to women.

Old Farts hold the door for the next person and always, when walking, make certain the lady is on the inside for protection.

Old Farts get embarrassed if someone swears in front of women and children and they don’t like any filthy language on TV. Old Farts have moral courage and personal integrity. They seldom brag except about their children and grandchildren.

It’s the Old Farts who know our great country is protected, not by politicians, but by the young men and women in the Air Force, Army, and Navy.

This country needs Old Farts with their work ethic, sense of responsibility, pride in their country and decent values.

We need them now more than ever.

Thank Goodness for Old Farts!

I was taught to respect my elders. It’s just getting harder to find them.

This is a frightening statistic !

25% of the women in this country are on medication for mental illness.

That’s scary. It means 75% are running around untreated.

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Got your Backcountry Licence?

Fish and Game are introducing a voluntary beat system for the Upper Wairau (which has also been designated as a backcountry fishery requiring a licence endorsement).

There are 9 beats in total, start-

ing at Six Mile Creek right up to the Molesworth boundary. Beat lengths vary in size from 1.5kms to 5kms+, so there should be a stretch of river to suit everyone on the day.

The purpose of the beat system

to help reduce angler conflict on the Upper Wairau, which has seen a significant increase in pressure in recent years, with an understanding that if an angler parks at the start of a fishing beat, then they should get that entire beat to themselves without fear of another angler dropping down on them from upstream.

Ultimately, the success of the beat system comes down to buy in from anglers, and while it is voluntary, we strongly encourage anglers to play by the rules.

To fish a designated backcountry fishery a Backcountry Licence Endorsement is required on your licence. You first require one of these qualifying Whole Season Sports Fishing Licences.

If you are a visitor from overseas you must buy a Non-Resident Licence.

Once you have bought a qualifying licence you can apply for a Backcountry Licence Endorsement.

Currently there are five Fish & Game regions within New Zealand with designated backcountry fisheries; Wellington, Nelson/ Marlborough, West Coast, Otago and Southland. When applying for your Backcountry Endorsement you must select each region you intend to fish. You can add another region to your licence at any time.

When you have obtained your Backcountry Licence Endorsement you will receive an updated copy of your licence by email showing the Backcountry Endorsement stamp and listing the regions for which you are endorsed. You must carry this copy of your licence when fishing designated back country rivers.

Peregrine Wines, Central Otago - Killing Falcons?

These photos depict the irony.

Why is a vineyard that names itself after a Falcon, has a brand logo that is a stylised falcon, and

is certified organic with BioGro, using a poison that will kill falcons by secondary poisoning?

Their website says “A natural extension of our passion for the land, Peregrine are dedicated to helping protect some of New Zealand’s rarest native birds. As well as taking part personally in some of this country’s most successful preservation programs, Peregrine is proud to have worked with the Wingspan Trust, the Department of Conservation and the Fiordland Conservation Trust.”!!

Peregrine stated they had used Pindone on some of their surrounding land on the river boundary, but

about 30 metres from the vines.

Jim Hughes, the poison contractor said that the information was incorrect. He said that Pindone was spread on all their surrounding land, not just on the vineyards.

The Eastern Falcon does eat carrion and can be killed by ingesting poisoned rabbits. Many hawks are killed this way too.

Most Central Otago vineyards said that it is perfectly possible

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to maintain a low, no-nuisance rabbit population without using cruel poisons. The vast majority of vineyards do just that!

Peregrine are on the Central Otago Wines register of vineyards that do not use cruel poisons (1080, Pindone, Magtoxin) on their vineyard land. Should they stay or should they go? Is using the stuff on surrounding land acceptable?

Central Otago Wines Register here: https://www.facebook.com/ notes/carol-sawyer/central-otagovineyards-who-do-not-use-inhumane-poisons-and-eco-toxins1080-pind/1975084266105223/ Peregrine say on their website : “We are thrilled to have cemented our relationship with our premium US wine importer, Vineyard Brands as a result of a visit earlier this month

by Greg Doody, President and CEO of Vineyard Brands. During the trip hosted by our owners, Lindsay, Jude and Fraser McLachlan a long term business agreement was signed that will see our full range of wines distributed across the US.

Flying Gaff, Harpoon, Tag and Release – Why Multi-Use? SwordPro products were designed to enable small boat users to limit the amount of fishing gear they need to carry onboard.

There are an increasing number of small boats out on the water game fishing now that it has become a daytime sport, allowing many more of us to enjoy the thrill of the hunt.

That doesn’t mean that SwordPro isn’t for large boats – in fact any space saving device is an asset for all boats! Luke Davey, the founder of SwordPro is small boat owner himself. Admittedly, one drawback of the smaller boat is storage space but he wanted ease of towing and the practicality of being able to

store his boat at home when not in use. This is why he designed the SwordPro flying gaff, harpoon, tag and release kit to be multi-use: it saves space, and offers everything a keen bluewater hunter will need for a successful day out fishing.

The SwordPro Ultimate and Extreme Kits are designed with interchangeable components meaning you have the one pole designed to be used with multiple attachments, the one pole now becomes your Flying Gaff, Harpoon, Gaff, Landing Net and Tag and Release simply by screwing the component you need into the end of the pole. Both the SwordPro Ultimate and Extreme

Poles easily fit into the gunnels of the boat without being a tangle of multiple poles for different uses. As soon as you know which tool you want to use simply screw in the component needed and you’re ready to go without having to fight off multiple poles spilling all over the deck.

The point of difference when purchasing SwordPro gear over other brands is the convenience of being able to use the one pole for all your fishing needs. SwordPro gear is made in New Zealand to be of the highest possible quality, meaning you don’t have to make the same purchase of substandard gear year after year.

Salmon escapes could impact the future of fish farming How the salmon escapes could impact the future of fish farming US Aquaculture leaders worry that the Aquaculture salmon escapes could lead to additional regulations on all ocean net pen operations.

US officials estimate that more than 100,000 salmon still remain in the waters surrounding Cypress Island a month after a recent massive escape occurred.

Many of the Atlantic salmon have been spotted in Canadian waters as well, leading Native groups, environmental groups, legislators and others to voice

their concerns about ocean aquaculture operations as a whole.

As US officials continue to conduct their investigation surrounding the salmon escape, no new permits on new Atlantic salmon nets or pens are to be granted.

Several U.S. lawmakers have called for the federal government to stop all permitting for new net pens or expansions to existing pens nationwide.

The lawmakers have also called for the prioritization of requests to update or maintain existing pens, and asked NOAA and the Army

Corps in a letter delivered to both agencies to conduct a review of the “integrity and operation of all currently operating net pen structures to address concerns of further accidents at existing facilities.”

Such an unprecedented farmed salmon escape could lead to legislation against ocean net pen operations that is not warranted or well thought-out.

I doesn’t matter whether the farm is land-based or oceanbased; it is how it is managed.

Kids Fishing Competition Free entry for kids at Salty Towers First Prize: Fishing Trip - half day (2 draws) - includes bait, berley, salt ice, fish filleted and vacuum packed Second Prize: $50 Star and Garter Hotel voucher Competition starts:

16th October to 28th October, 2017

Competition drawn

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Otorohanga stream ‘runs green’ with effluent

And still they come! The Tongariro has had a fairly constant winter flow of between 35 and 50 cumecs, probably the reason for the continued good fishing.

Having said that from my experience the Tongariro fishes well year round, if you have not fished it during the summer perhaps you should give it a go, you will find the trout are actively feeding to put on condition, early summer small nymphs

not so much weight, mid-summer use dry flies or dry and dropper.

Currently the back end of the Major is awash with trout spawning.

You might want to learn how to Czech nymph, an awesome experience on some of the smaller streams in the Fish and Game areas, there are a couple of rivers I cannot wait to get into this summer. Buy a Czech nymph rod from us and get free lessons.

Throw the 8 weight Rod away or hang it on the wall, get into a 4, 5, 6 weight this summer they are much lighter and of course give a better presentation, I will be purchasing one of the new Redington Rods in a 5 weight.

Mentioning weight, a fly box found and handed in recently with the most ridiculously weighted nymphs I have ever seen, I think we will have it for some time as whomever owns it would probably be embarrassed to claim it. Some are so big and heavy most would require a helmet while trying to “lob” them out because they would be impossible to cast, bugger me.

The number of anglers who break hooks, having never had this happen ever, I would suggest they use an 8

weight rod upwards of 9lb breaking strain monofilament (an electric reel if it were legal) the fish almost dancing on water as they are being dredged in until the hook either breaks or bends, the gentle art of angling LOL. As more rain is in the forecast you might want to try a wet line on the Tongariro some of the older patterns still work well Hamills Killer, Mrs Simpson, Red Setter etc.

Am now the proud owner of a Joe Frost “Tonga” split cane fly rod, originally purchased from the Creel Tackle House many years ago, the owner recently deceased, however this Rod shall go in a glass case and be displayed in the shop, another part of our history preserved.

October 1st, most rivers around the country open, licences can be obtained online or come on in and we will do it for you, just bring a credit card to purchase.

Do not forget we are generally open by 7.30 am in the Tackle Shop (8am for the Café)

Lost Rivers – in New Zealand

New Zealand’s trout fisheries are going downhill and in some cases such as Canterbury’s Selwyn and Irwell

Rivers, “lost” as public trout fisheries says Graham Carter, president of the NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers.

Co-ordinated by Federation executive member Steve Gerard of Methven, the federation had compiled a list of rivers that were either lost or in noticeable decline, from an anglers perspective.

“It’s very eye opening and a sharp reminder with an election looming, that water and rivers is an issue to take up with politicians.

At the very least all anglers must vote and vote with the future of our trout rivers in mind,” he said.

“Lost Rivers” represents a decline of the ‘intergenerational equity’ and every New Zealander shares in our freshwater resources.

A link gives all the other lost rivers in both the South and North Islands see http://www.nzffa.co.nz/map.html “This mapping lists rivers where a significant loss of opportunity to catch fish has been identified, and highlights the significant decline in our freshwater fisheries.

The causes generally relate to developments such as large scale irrigation, intensive farming particularly dairying and forestry clear felling and forestry monocultures within catchments that have impacted on those river environments.”

Graham Carter said the mapping was compiled using NIWA angler usage and perception surveys and expert angler input. Only rivers where there was an obvious decline have been listed, there remain a significant number of others where there wasn’t enough collaborating information to include them.

“The purpose of the mapping is to further raise awareness of just how big an issue this really is, and is a work in progress, we will keep updating the map as more information is compiled.”

He urged anglers to tell the Federation about any degraded rivers that should be included: maps@ nzffa.co.nz or info@nzffa.co.nz Photos depict rivers lost in Canterbury, Southland, Nelson-Marlborough and the Waikato areas.

A stream running green with dairy effluent from two separate sources on the same Otorohanga dairy farm has appalled Waikato Regional Council officers.

“The council is particularly concerned that one of the discharges to the stream appears to have been ongoing and deliberate,” said investigations manager Patrick Lynch.

The contamination was found in the stream west of Otorohanga recently after a tip-off from a member of the public.

“We do not usually report this kind of incident until after it has been through a court process,” said Mr Lynch.

“However, what we found on this occasion is of real concern. We have many farmers doing the right thing by the environment in our region but unfortunately there are still some in the sector who, quite simply, don’t seem to care.”

Mr Lynch said he was very thankful to the member of the public who contacted the council and provided very good information.

“This person had noted that a stream,

that normally runs clear, was running green over several days particularly early in the morning. Our incident response team did an excellent job on Friday morning by being at the stream at first light. They observed the pollution in the stream and were able to track it back some distance to its source.

“We will launch a formal investigation and, though we remain openminded about the circumstances surrounding this, it is very likely that enforcement action will follow.”

Tri-Lodge fishing competition A wild, wet and windy weekend didn’t deter the hardy fishermen taking part in the annual Tri-Lodge fishing competition on the weekend of 7th and 8th September.

It was unfortunate that the rough conditions prevented any boat fishing but the fly fishers were out in force.

The event was hosted by last year’s winners Waitahanui Lodge.

Also taking part was a strong team from the Shoreline Motel.

It was great to see the New Windsor Lodge back with big numbers, determined to win this year, and they did, taking out all 3 categories.

All the winning fish were caught

by Ngahere Wall: Best Condition Factor, Heaviest Trout (6lb 2oz).

The Team prize with the combined weight of 2 heaviest (6lb 2oz + 5lb 11oz) In total, 55 trout were weighed in over the weekend.

What is a Reel Recovery Retreat

Reel Recovery NZ are proud to announce that registrations for the first retreat of 2018 are now open.

“What is a Reel Recovery Retreat?”

In a nut shell – a weekend of fly fishing and camaraderie for men with cancer.

Though only a few days in duration, a Reel Recovery retreat can be a life-changing event for men battling cancer. The program blends outdoor activity with directed conversations to create a unique environment conducive to relaxed, open interactions.

The program is designed to be both experiential and reflective, to develop group camaraderie as well as individual skills, and to build bonds of friendship that provide a reservoir of personal hope.

This is a special weekend of support, reflection and adventure.

For an idea of what a retreat involves – please watch this video: https://www.facebook. com/ReelRecoveryNZ/videos “Who is eligible to go?”

All adult men (age 21+) who have (or have had) cancer, in any stage of treatment are eligible to participate.

“Do I need to know how to fly fish?”

Not at all – guidance is provided by expert fly-fishing instructors. Time fishing out on the water will be with an experienced fishing buddy who will help you find your way in the water.

“How many people attend?”

A maximum of ten men are invited to participate, to ensure the quality of the instruction and to create a powerful small-group dynamic.

“What will it cost me?”

There is no cost to yourself for

the weekend – all you need to do is organise your own transport to and from the venue.

Reel Recovery provides all meals, accommodation, fishing equipment and fishing licenses.

“Where is the retreat held?”

The retreat will be held on a working farm in the South Waikato – at Castle Rock.

“Do I need medical clearance to attend a retreat?”

Yes - a signed medical release from a physician must be re-

ceived prior to the Retreat.

“How do I apply” Please complete the online Application Form found here: http:// reelrecovery.org/programs/application/ (ensure you select the correct New Zealand retreat) or email info@reelrecovery.org.nz for more information.

Be Well!

Fish On! To become a supporter of Reel Recovery New Zealand and make a donation please email info@reelrecovery.org.nz

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Didymo Dave BACK TO BASICS Well I’m absolutely stunned and between you and me, more than just a wee bit irked, from talking to fishermen this winter changing rivers in the Taupo area.

I believe the compliance to the Check Clean Dry programme is at the lowest level it’s been in years. Why? Has there been an announcement from the science community that Didymo won’t grow in North Island waters? No There Has Not! Are there signs, banners and Check Clean Dry promotional material all over the place? Yes there is ! So why won’t fishermen clean their gear between waterways?

Well aside from being too blimin lazy, one of the reasons, despite throwing everything that we can education wise at fishermen is the silly thinking that if they haven’t been in the South Island they are ok. They simply cannot seem to grasp that if someone else transfers a freshwater pest into a waterway then they could be the transfer agent to another waterway. Now

the South Island point is interesting and let me give you an example why.

At the Lake Otamangakau boat ramp last summer I talked to a bloke about the Check Clean Dry programme and he informed me that he hadn’t been in the South Island.

I thought oh dear me, here we go again.

Now people tell me that often and what they are really saying is that they think the Check Clean Dry programme is solely Didymo focused despite the massive education effort to shift peoples thinking to freshwater pests.

For example Hornwort is a real nasty invasive weed and it’s in Lake Taupo and Lake Rotoaira but not in Lake Otamangakau.

Now what has that got to do with the South Island? Then I get people telling me that catfish have got into Lake Rotoiti. Now take a moment and think about that statement because these people are missing the point. How could catfish have got into Lake Rotoiti?

Hitched a ride on Santa’s sleigh and jumped off? Done a Michael Jackson moonwalk down the road and jumped in the Lake? Impossible.

The correct terminology is that catfish were transferred into Lake Rotoiti by a human being not complying with the Check Clean Dry programme, they certainly didn’t get there themselves.

Honestly sometimes I go home at night and I don’t know whether to have a shave or a haircut out of frustration.

So in summary there is No Excuse for not complying with the Check Clean Dry programme when shifting between waterways and doing your bit to look after the pristine rivers and lakes we have. Now if you think I have picked on fishermen, you are right.

But wait till next month’s column when I will give you an update on the latest research and plan of attack to keep Lake Snow out of the Central North Island Lakes and that involves all water uses. My phone number is 027 240 9603 if you have any questions about the Check Clean Dry programme.

Tight Lines, Didymo Dave.

Tongariro Blue Pool access closed Prison and its subsequent sale, the Blue Pool access way is now on private land.

There is no easement for public access in place, so to date access for anglers or other users has been at the generosity of the landowners and managers.

The access has been There has been a lot of comment gated over the last few about access to the Blue Pool in weeks, so that the forthe last few weeks, sparked by est blocks alongside the the appearance of posts on the road can be harvested. entrance to the “Blue Pool Road”. It’s important to manThe first point to make is that it age access while the isn’t a legal road at all, rather an harvesting takes place, access track which was until re- due to the hazard this cently maintained by the Depart- represents. We are adment of Corrections so that anglers vised that the harvesting could access the upper Tongariro. will take up to 6 weeks, With the closure of the Rangipo during which time the

road will be closed to the public.

It’s important this closure is respected, as it will provide the opportunity for discussions around enduring access along the track to occur with the landowners.

For any public inquiries, people can contact New Zealand Forest Managers office 07 386 8757.

Visit us on www.facebook/Fishingandoutdoorsnewspaper

17

Early Bird Bait & Tackle Report Getting fed up with the weather are we guys? What with the wind and the rain, getting out for a day’s fish is difficult at the moment but it will get better.

If you don’t want to get out on the boat you should at least be getting it ready for the season. I have had one guy in this week who towed the boat from Rotorua, got it in the water and then found out that the engine wouldn’t start. Apparently a loose wire or something to do with the coil was the problem, but because of this he was not able to get out there on the Firth so returned to Rotorua a bit disgruntled. For the ‘Fishos’ who have braved it there are some really great reports of big fish and big work-ups everywhere.

If you venture out just north of Coromandel and head out towards the middle you will no doubt see plenty of Gannets around. If you can get your jigs out amongst them you will pick up some really good fish.

If the birds are on the surface, drift around and amongst them with a strayline rig and wait to get hammered. My neighbour was out there in the middle and hooked up with a nice 14lb Snapper and his mate was rewarded with a 15lb beauty not long afterwards. The Mussle Farm is producing very good fish between

38cm and 50cm but lots of guys are getting busted off by ‘Rat’ Kingies.

This is a problem at this time of year but live with it and the prize specimen will come along. Most people I have spoken with are using Flasher rigs and Ledger Rigs which are basically the same. Two hook rigs are the more popular because the last thing you want is three fish on one line. Two is bad enough fighting and swimming in different directions but put another one on and you have problems. Preference in baits will depend on time of day and conditions of weather at the time.

Fishing from the rocks or beach is mostly hit and miss but a few stories recently include a huge Snapper that was hooked and brought to the shore only to look up out of the water and spit out at the fisherman.

The fish then shook his head, turned around and threw the hook leaving a long wake on the surface of the water as he headed out to sea. Another one which happened this week was with a Kahawai. Everyone knows that when hooked, a Kahawai will dance and jump out of the water; well this one did a quick tango followed by the samba and then jumped into the guys dingy.

Strangely he only gave it 9/10 as it landed on its’ tail and not head first.

My local guys prefer pillies and with what they have shown me, they know what they are talking about.

My good friend Dick who is definitely the talk of the town, often brings one or two smoked Kahawai on a Friday evening when I’m open late and always amazes us with his stories.

I mention him because he swears that if you freeze your Kahawai first and then defrost and smoke it, it stays very moist and doesn’t dry out. I cannot fault what he says because it is absolutely perfect and delicious. Work on the coast road is still ongoing but the guys are doing a great job keeping it open despite numerous more slips. Maybe you should drop them off a fish on your way back to thank them for their hard work.

Before I sign off, just letting you all know that my son is definitely taking over the shop while I am still looking for a job (hint hint). Opening and closing times will remain exactly the same and I am sure that he will fit in well with everyone who calls in. He doesn’t know everything about the stock in the shop but please give him a break if he cannot answer your question.

Believe me, he’ll get enough hassle from the wholesalers. Look after yourself everyone and ‘Tight Lines’.

Rock lobster and paua poacher nabbed A Canterbury diesel mechanic and well-known local fisherman is to undergo electronic monitoring for 4 months after pleading guilty to running a lengthy black market pāua and rock lobster operation.

Forty-five-year-old Sefton man Michael Andrew Dickson received a sentence of 4 months’ community detention and 200 hours’ community work when he appeared in the Christchurch District Court.

His offending was uncovered during a MPI investigation.

The court heard that between the periods of January to May 2015 and September 2015 to May 2016, Dickson sold 346 rock lobster and

200 pāua on the black market.

The total retail value of the rock lobster and pāua combined, if purchased legitimately, was over $30,000.

It’s not known how much Dickson benefited financially from his offending but MPI estimates it would’ve been substantial. In return for providing people with the illegally taken catch, Dickson received a combination of cash, favours, alcohol, and wild meat.

MPI spokesman Howard Reid says Dickson recreationally dived for both pāua and rock lobster mainly in the Kaikōura area and also acquired the recreational catch of rock lobster and pāua from other divers.

“He organised sales by text and phone calls to various people including workmates,” says Mr Reid.

“The estimated commercial value of the illegal sale of the paua was around $2,240 and between $27,680 and $34,600 for the rock lobster.”

Mr Dickson abused his position as a trusted recreational fisher. His offending was clearly planned and deliberate and was ongoing over 2 years.”

Mr Reid says Dickson admitted being aware of the rules and regulations during the period of his offending but that didn’t stop him from operating at all times he was selling seafood.

This type of conduct occurs primarily because the commercial industry don’t supply sufficient local trade and charge export prices to New Zealanders.

Mr Reid says seafood exports rank as New Zealand’s fourth or fifth largest export earner and the annual loss of revenue to New Zealand through black market activity like this is in the millions of dollars. This highlights the greed of the industry that exports almost every lobster and paua caught leaving virtually nothing for local trade outlets.

The illegal take of rock lobster and pāua is a serious concern in Kaikōura as the commercial industry believe that they have a monopoly on seafood.

A range of items used by Dickson in the offending including dive gear, a boat, and freezers, were forfeited to the Crown.

Scottish Independence

If Scotland gains its independence in any forthcoming referendum, the remainder of the United Kingdom will be known as the “Former United Kingdom,” or FUK. In a bid to discourage the Scots from voting “yes” in the referendum, the British Government is intending to campaign with the slogan “Vote NO, for FUK’s sake.”

They feel the Scottish voters will be able to relate to this.

021 0733374

FISHING CHARTERS AND CLASSIFIEDS Bait & Tackle

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Help Didymo Dave and his team of helpers clean up the Waitahanui and Hinemaiaia Rivers.

YOUR DONATION WILL HELP https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/ helpdidymodaveandhisboyscleanup thewaitahanuiriver

Phone: 07 8668928 - 0278668001 corofishing@gmail.com

FISHING ‘BUDDY’

NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers Inc

You must know how to fish.

You want someone to show you the river,

‘Advocacy for Freshwater Anglers’

Grant Alley, former pro guide, 0274 700783

NZ oldest Tackle Shop

Phone 022 3002201 07 8668172

NZFFA Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NZFFA/ Website http://www.nzffa.co.nz/ Email info@nzffa.co.nz

Taupahi Road, Turangi 07 3867929 www.creeltackle.com Phone ahead for a coffee

chesnutt1957@slingshot.co.nz coromandelcharterfishing.co.nz

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Help Didymo Dave clean up the Waitahanui and Hinemaia Rivers Call 021 02600437 for drop off points North Island wide

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Ed came home drunk one night from fishing, slid into bed beside his sleeping wife, and fell asleep then St. Peter said, 'You died in your sleep, Ed.' Ed was stunned. 'I'm dead? No, I can't be! I've got too much to live for. Send me back!'

St. Peter said, 'I'm sorry, but there's only one way you can go back, and that is as a chicken.'

Ed was devastated, but begged St. Peter to send him to a farm near his home. The next thing he knew, he was covered with feathers, clucking and pecking the ground.

A rooster strolled past. 'So, you're the new hen, huh? How's your first day here?'

'Not bad,' replied Ed the hen, 'but I have this strange feeling inside. Like I'm gonna explode!'

'You're ovulating,' explained the rooster. 'Don't tell me you've never laid an egg before?'

'Never,' said Ed. 'Well, just relax and let it happen,' says the rooster. 'It's no big deal.'

He did, and a few uncomfortable seconds later, out popped an egg! He was overcome with emotion as he experienced motherhood. He soon laid another egg - his joy was overwhelming.

As he was about to lay his third egg, he felt a smack on the back of his head, and heard.....

"Ed, wake up! You've shit the bed!"

Stainless Steel Ltd, feeling it was time for a shakeup, hired a new CEO. The new boss was determined to rid the company of all slackers.

On a tour of the facilities, the CEO noticed a guy leaning against a wall.

The room was full of workers and he wanted to let them know that he meant business.

He asked the guy, “How much money do you make a week?”

A little surprised, the young man looked at him and said, “I make $400 a week.

Why?” The CEO said, “Wait right here” He walked back to his office, came back in two minutes, and handed the guy $1,600 in cash and said, “Here’s four weeks’ pay. Now get out and don’t come back.”

Feeling pretty good about himself the CEO looked around the room and asked, “Does anyone want to tell me what that goof-ball did here?”

From across the room a voice said, “Pizza delivery guy from Domino’s.

BRAG PAGE Send your photos into mail@fishingoutdoors.co.nz

Spama Runialo, with the catch of the day.

Spama and his mates from Taranaki spent the day out on the ‘Nadgee’ around the Coromandel and as you can see the chilly bin is full.

The ‘Nadgee’ a 13 m Australian hardwood trawler which has been converted to a Charter Fishing Vessel.

With space for up to 15 passengers and 6 passenger berths for overnight trips, by prior arrangement, the Nadgee Charter Fishing is based around the Scenic Coromandel Islands, Mussel Farms, and Hauraki Gulf.

Contact Skipper Russell Chesnutt, Nadgee Fishing Charters on Phone 07 866 8172; Mob: 022 300 2201 or email chesnutt1957@slingshot.co.nz Website: www.coromandelcharterfishing. co.nz

Hamilton’s newest Suzuki USED OUTBOARDS authorized dealer FOR SALE and instantaneous, crisp shifting.

The Suzuki Troll Mode System gives boaters very fine control over engine speed at low revolutions. The Suzuki Troll Mode System is easy to use and comes complete with a specific tachometer and independent control switch.

Phil Birss Marine are Hamilton’s newest Suzuki authorized sales and service centre for Marine Outboards.

Suzuki outboard motors are high performance engines with high end features and outstanding fuel efficiency, which packs a punch.

Suzuki outboards feature a Lean Burn Control System fuel technology and Offset Driveshaft.

With Suzuki Marine’s offset driveshaft you can run a larger diameter propeller at a high-

er pitch, providing better acceleration at any given RPM. Maintenance-free timing chains means no belt adjustment and no maintenance during the life of the engine. This reduces your servicing costs over time, providing you better value.

They offer Suzuki Precision Control. This technologically advanced system is a computerbased drive-by-wire control system which makes operation easy with smooth, precise control

Pelosium:

The Suzuki Dual Prop System (also known as the contra-rotating props), efficiently turns 350-horsepower output into propulsion under water.

Suzuki outboards exterior is protected from harmful corrosion with its own specially formulated anti-corrosion finish. Applying the finish directly to the outboard’s aluminium surface, allows maximum bonding of the finish to the surface to increase durability.

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

A major research institution has just announced the discovery of the densest element yet known to science. The new element has been named Pelosium. Pelosium has one neutron, 12 assistant neutrons, 75 deputy neutrons, and 224 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 311.

These particles are held together by dark forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.

The symbol of Pelosium is PU. Pee-yew.

Pelosium’s mass actually increases over time, as morons randomly interact with various elements in the atmosphere and become assistant deputy neutrons within the Pelosium molecule, leading to the formation of isodopes.

This characteristic of moron-promotion leads some scientists to believe that Pelosium is formed whenever morons reach a certain quantity in concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as Critical Morass.

When catalyzed with money, Pelosium activates CNNadnausium, an element that radiates orders of magnitude more energy, albeit as incoherent noise, since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons as Pelosium.

An example of Feminist Physics.

1993 Mariner 60hp p/tilt oil inject 1995 Yamaha 30hp elec, longshaft 1996 Yamaha 115hp 25in 1997 Johnson 115hp 20in 1999 Mercury 175hp, 20in 2002 Mercury 150hp, Optimax 2004 Yamaha 130hp 2004 Johnson 90hp, 20in 2004 Yamaha 100hp 4-stroke avail 2 weeks 2004 Yamaha 225hp 4-stroke 2008 Etec 40hp

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$3995 $2995 $4995 $4450 $5495 $6990 $6995 $6500 POA $11990 $5995

1994 Yamaha 140hp, full service with new head gaskets, water pump, impellor, gear oil, spark plugs, stainless steel prop, approx 400 hrs, runs well, remotes and gauges

$4495

Secondhand Parts available for Johnson, Mercury and Yamaha

Auckland Outboard Services 2/54 Ranfurly Rd Papatoetoe (off Cavendish Drive), Manukau

Ph 09 3901159 - 021 156 7645

Spring Clearance deals Pakula Digger Teasers

were $199.90

Abu Garcia Soft Bait rods

now $129.90ea

were $169.90

Cressi Palau Mask Snorkel and Fin set

Snowbee Waders from

only $14.90

now $119.90ea

$149.90 ea

now $199.90 ea

Catch Aluminum Fishing Pliers

Okuma Azores reels now only

Abu Garcia Veritas 2.0 Surf Rods

were $299

NEW Catch Lil’ squid wings in stock

from $29.90

Silstar 13’ Surf Rods

Owner hooks from

were $79.90

now $49.90

Cressi Gorilla Dive bag

$2.90 a packet

Okuma Safina 80 Spin Reel

was $149.90

$109.90 a pair

now $99.90

was $139

now $99.90ea

only $49.90

Ramco Boats now available in Hamilton authorised SUZUK I dealer

authorised SUZUK I dealer

RAMCO 5050 CUDDY with Voyager trailer, Suzuki 60hp, 4 Stroke.

All 5 year warranty, 4 rod holders, seat squabs, fire extinguisher, WOF/REG, boarding ladder.

RAMCO 5450 PRELUDE with Voyager trailer, bait station, Ski tow combo, 4 rod holders, moveable rear seat, seat squabs, boarding ladder, fire extinguisher, WOF/REG with Suzuki 70hp 4 Stroke

RAMCO 5800 INTERCEPTOR and Ramco alloy trailer, bimini top and rocket launcher, bait station, ski tow combo, moveable rear seat, seat squabs, boarding ladder, fire extinguisher, WOF.REG Suzuki 90hp 4 stroke

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$41,500 or Suzuki 80hp 4 stroke

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This package Price $36,995.00

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Suzuki 115hp $59,995.00

New Boat Sales and Service 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