Expected Government announcement on Southeast MPAs

In the lead up to the October 14 general election, please keep in mind that Fish Mainland cannot endorse any particular political party or group. Since we are a charitable organisation, our focus is on improvements for all who fish in South Island waters and the environment.

Please refer to our article in the October issue of The Fishing Paper and Hunting News for an overview of questions we asked of the main political parties. We trust their responses help broaden your awareness of their positions on an important political topic, recreational fishing.

With respect to the expected imminent Government announcement about MPAs in the Southeast region of the South Island, we do have strong views regarding the flawed process followed that was anything but collaborative.

First, the Government-formed MPA ‘forum’ lacked representation of recreational fishers’ views.

Second, the hand-picked forum participants were gagged and, therefore, could not enrich the process with input from those who had an interest and could be effected.

Third, nonetheless, during consultation in 2020, Southeast locals provided solutions that worked for everyone, but they were ignored.

Fourth, as has been scheduled for today, after three years of silence, the Government is expected to announce its decisions on establishing MPAs.

Finally, such an announcement is unprecedented, given that voting in the general election has already begun, which contradicts the longstanding ‘convention on caretaker government’.

Fish Mainland might have further comments once we have considered what we expect the Government to release today.