Protecting the Hauraki Gulf: Tairua fisherman says new bill will spell disaster for Coromandel

Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said the bill would nearly triple the amount of protected space in the bay.

Limited ring net fishing will continue for a small number of fishermen in protected areas that supply regional communities, he said.

The Hauraki Gulf Forum, the official body responsible for promoting the conservation and management of the Hauraki Gulf, has already raised concerns, saying opening up high-protection areas to commercial fishing would undermine years of collaboration between successive governments and iwi, communities and industry. to ensure the protection and restoration of the bay.

Simpson said the new legislation would increase the bay’s protected area from 0.3% to 6%, leaving 94% for Lee and others to fish.

Lee said the high-security areas were chosen without taking into account the interests of the local population.

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Simpson said the Hauraki Gulf was the most intensively used maritime space within New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone.

“In the eight years since the sea change plan was finalized, the condition of the bay has gotten much worse.”

sea ​​change planDeveloped over four years by a multi-industry team, it was introduced in 2016 to help stem the flow of sediment and other pollutants into the Bay, reduce stress on wildlife, reverse the decline of fish stocks and restore the health of critical ecosystems.

Lee said the original Sea Change paper identified many reasons for the depletion of fish stocks and the degradation of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.

“These included destructive commercial fishing practices such as bottom trawling and purse seine fishing; Despite the mountain of scientific evidence of the destructive nature of these practices, they are still permitted under the new legislation.

“Ask yourself why there is no bait on the shore and no seabirds on the high seas, not to mention the wasteland and softened flesh, the snapper in poor condition, like a last minute slap in the face for recreational fishermen, commercial fishing will be allowed after some time increased protection.”

Simpson said New Zealand’s first marine reserve, created in the Hauraki Gulf in 1975 at Lee, was small and almost 50 years later only 0.3% of the gulf was protected.

“Yes, some of Scott (Lee’s) favorite fishing spots fall into one of the proposed new protected areas, and he feels the same way some fishermen in Lee felt back in 1975.

“This is no reason not to continue with, and some would say, still inadequate protection of the Gulf’s rapidly deteriorating ecosystems,” Simpson said.

“I doubt there will be any of those 1975 Leigh fishermen who opposed the first reserve who will now think it is still a bad idea.

“Scott (Lee) complains that, as chairman of the select committee considering the bill, I failed him as a constituent. “I think it would be a much greater failure for me, as Coromandel MP, not to support this move to stop the deteriorating health of the Gulf population.”