Submission: Review of sustainability measures for GUR7 for 2021/22

Addressed to Inshore Fisheries Management, Fisheries New Zealand, FMSubmissions@mpi.govt.nz on 27 July 2021

Introduction

Fish Mainland is an incorporated not-for-profit organisation whose purpose is to coordinate and assist the South Island marine fishing community in restoring and sustaining fisheries resources for the benefit of all who fish in South Island waters.

Fish Mainland is a member-based organisation. The Members have democratic control over the organisation through the power to nominate, elect and remove Regional Directors of the Board. Also, the South Island Mandated Iwi Organisations can appoint and remove two other Directors. The Board appoints two more Directors and an independent Chair of the Board. Elected and appointed Directors of the Board demonstrate Fish Mainland’s mandate to represent recreational fishers.

Submission

Fish Mainland supports Option 1 (status quo) for GUR7 since the recreational allowance is inadequate and should be increased to account for the current and future level of recreational effort. Any future increase in the recreational allowance would be more difficult to obtain if the TACC is further increased (Option 2).

Option 1 is considered reasonable given the preliminary nature of the trawl survey biomass estimates and the importance of increasing the recreational allowance and by more than what Option 2 would provide.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide input into these important and significant decisions.

Yours sincerely,

James Crossland

Chair of the Board