Request for political parties’ policies on recreational fishing
On 18 September, Fish Mainland sent the following email to relevant MPs of the Labour, Green, NZ First, National and Act political parties:
Our organisation, Fish Mainland Inc, would very much appreciate receiving your Party's policy on recreational fishing, which we would like to place on our website https://www.fishmainland.nz/
We would be grateful to receive any comments you may have regarding your Party’s policy in relation to Fish Mainland's South Island Recreational Fisheries Policy https://www.fishmainland.nz/south-island-recreational-fisheries-policy
It appears that most of the political parties, as does New Zealand, continue to function without any policy on the public right to fish.
To date, the Green Party is the only one to (partly) fulfil our request in providing its recreational fisheries policy, but without any direct comment on our own Policy. We will keep you informed of any other responses received, but for now you can read the Green Party’s policy.
Note: the Green Party’s policy has little mention of recreational fishing. It is more about the Party’s intentions to implement ecosystem-based management and marine spatial planning, reduce commercial fishing’s environmental impacts, review the QMS, and establish more MPAs. One paragraph is devoted to recreational fishing, but incorrectly suggests it is managed under the QMS.
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
Oceans are the lifeblood of our planet, and the fish, seabirds and marine life they support are vital to our identity as New Zealanders and our wellbeing. Sustainability and the environmental ethic of kaitiakitanga is at the heart of the Green Party’s fisheries policy. The Greens believe that an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management led collaboratively by government, Iwi and hapū in consultation with environmental organisations, recreational and commercial fishers and the wider community is the best way to ensure abundant fisheries.
Some fishing methods such as bottom trawling, dredging and set netting impact the seabed, catch non target species such as dolphins and marine mammals and are environmentally damaging. The Greens will phase out these methods for healthy seas and abundant fisheries.
The Green Party will review the Quota Management System. The QMS single-stock assessment treats different types of fish as individual resources to be exploited, rather than protecting the health of marine ecosystems overall. The detail of the ecosystem management approach and QMS review will be developed in partnership with Māori within a framework that upholds rights and obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and could include co-governance of the marine environment with iwi and hapū.
Recreational fishing is an important source of affordable food, and valued by many New Zealanders. It is not well managed under the QMS, with little data on the levels of recreational catch and compliance with conditions. In the past, recreational fishers have been subjected to one-sided laws that have not taken account of their interests. The 2014 snapper bag and size limit reductions unduly affected recreational fishers while doing nothing to reduce commercial hauls. This was unfair and ineffective, as it failed to target the most unsustainable fishing practices. Any review of the QMS must include recreational fishers and their concerns.
The next phase of resource management reforms must provide for comprehensive and integrated marine spatial planning. This will enable identification and zoning of areas where fishing is allowed; some methods are restricted and protected, fishing free areas. Spatial planning will enable a more coordinated approach to aquaculture to provide more long term certainty for marine farming and recreational takes of fish and shellfish. A coastal occupation charge for commercial use of sea space can help fund sustainable oceans management.
More marine protected areas and a reform of the Marine Reserves Act are vital to the health of our oceans. Reform will involve the public recreational and commercial fishers, and Treaty partners and will enable a range of protection mechanisms to protect, conserve and restore marine ecosystems.
See the Greens’ plan for oceans and fisheries here: https://www.greens.org.nz/thriving_oceans_plan
Eugenie Sage, Environment and conservation spokesperson