History
Photo Credit: Randall Bess
The Working Group from front to back: Tanya Dann (Stewart Island), Fred Te Miha (Ngāti Tama), Neville Gurr (Canterbury Sport Fishing Club), Barbara Reay (Akaroa Harbour Fishing Club), Larnce Wichman (Te Korowai – Kaikoura), Alan Key (Southland), Jim Crossland (Akaroa Harbour Fishing Club), Randall Bess (The Nature Conservancy), Stewart Bull (Ngāi Tahu), Nigel Scott (Ngāi Tahu), Brett Bensemann (Tautuku Fishing Club).
Fishing is integral to the Kiwi way of life. But, too little attention has been directed at improving the fisheries that are important to recreational fishers. This inattention has often come at a cost to the recreational fishing experience.
In 2010, three South Islanders (Laurel Teirney, Alan Key and the late Nelson Cross) proposed a way to improve the situation for recreational fishers. As a first step, their proposal, Securing a Fishing Future, sought to replace the fragmented representation of recreational fishing interests with a unified voice by establishing a self-funded, national-level organisation.
This proposal attracted broad support amongst South Island recreational fishers. However, it faltered when considered by some North Island recreational fishing interests and the then Ministry of Fisheries.
Many South Islanders maintain the view that collective representation is needed. They realise that if joined together, they can accomplish a lot more than if they continue to work individually or in small groups.
The South Island Working Group acknowledges that while Fish Mainland has an explicit role in promoting recreational fishing interests, its effectiveness will largely come through its ability to work respectfully and collaboratively with the Crown, Iwi, the other fishing sectors and interest to find workable solutions that provide the best outcomes for New Zealand.
The Working Group also acknowledges the value for the Government in Fish Mainland remaining proactive, forward looking and collaborative in its working relationships with others. The Working Group anticipates the Government will reciprocate by acknowledging Fish Mainland’s mandate for representation and supporting the best option for secure, long-term funding.
Refer to the 26 November 2020 News Item regarding the election and appointment of Fish Mainland’s first Directors of the Board.
With the support of The Nature Conservancy a group of South Islanders have recently worked together to design Fish Mainland.
The Working Group acknowledges several individuals, clubs and other organisations have contributed their time and expertise to ensure Fish Mainland is designed for South Islanders and Stewart Islanders. The Working Group and The Nature Conservancy would like to thank the Aotearoa Foundation and the Myers Foundation Trust for their generous support towards making Fish Mainland a reality.
Fish Mainland is designed to be a fully functioning but small and agile, professional organisation that represents the diverse interests of the 100,000+ South Islanders who fish in the marine environment.
Fish Mainland’s design supports existing fishing clubs, boat clubs and other organisations, such as the Marine Guardians of Fiordland and Kaikoura, in achieving their own outcomes.
As important, Fish Mainland is designed to provide the means for the non-club affiliated recreational fishers to raise issues and have input into fisheries management processes, if they choose to do so. Fishers can then turn attention to what is important to them, knowing that Fish Mainland is looking after their fishing interests.
Fish Mainland is modelled on the successes of Recfishwest, which represents the 740,000+ Western Australians who fish https://recfishwest.org.au/
Recfishwest’s Founder and Inaugural Chair, Ian Stagles, joined the South Island Working Group in designing Fish Mainland. Ian says that “Effective fisheries management requires good representation and building respect and trust between all fishing sectors.”
“In Western Australia, both recreational and commercial sectors are well represented, and over time this has significantly improved the dynamics between them. Their collective efforts have brought about fisheries improvements that would not have been possible otherwise” says Ian.