Haratua 2007
Issue 12

  1. New Shared Fisheries Proposal Put to Minister
  2. Scientists survey Taharoa eel populations
  3. Busy year begins with mandating iwi and protecting the settlement
  4. Ngai Tamanuhiri achieves inshore fisheries agreement
  5. Rob McLeod stands down from board
  6. Kiwis well-informed on sustainability and the health benefits of fish
  7. AFL buys Kia Ora Seafoods
  8. Maori shared fisheries submissions
  9. Maori MPs intervention delays introduction of Fisheries Amendment Bill
  10. Sealord CEO moves to new role
  11. Napier Fisheries Conference
  12. Panel airs shared fisheries views
  13. Glaister resigns as head of MFish
  14. Commercial fisheries valued at $3.8 billion
  15. Staying Maori while going global
  16. Court delivers judgement on Kahawai allowable catch
  17. Government approves industry-led proposal to protect seabed
  18. Ngai Tahu says eel size limits ineffectual
  19. More assets in iwi hands first half of financial year
  20. High seas limit on bottom trawl fishing
  21. Kirsty Woods takes leave of absence
  22. Changes to Charitable Trust laws
  23. Staff and Directors
  24. New Executive Assistant

Other Issues >>

Panel airs shared fisheries views

A panel discussion at the Napier Maori Fisheries Conference convened by lawyer Mike Sullivan from Nelson-based Ocean Law provided the opportunity for delegates to debate the Government's shared fisheries proposals.

On the panel was Peter Douglas, Chief Executive of Te Ohu Kaimoana, Keith Ingram, Recreational Fishing Council, Mark Edwards, from the Ministry of Fisheries, and Sonny Tau, Chairman of Te Runanga a Iwi o Ngapuhi. Stan Pardoe, Rongowhakaata, said that it appeared the shared fisheries proposals were in response to an Auckland problem and that Aucklanders had the ability to make changes. He added that charter vessels needed to be regulated.

Sonny Tau replied that charter owners didn't actually do the fishing and were more akin to taxi drivers taking fishers out. However, he added that in the Bay of Islands, one operator caught five tonnes of fish a year or more on his charter boat and there were 90 charter businesses resident there.

Te Ohu Kaimoana CEO Peter Douglas, Ocean Law partner Mike Sullivan and Recreational Fishing Council president Keith Ingram debate shared fisheries issues.

Keith Ingram questioned how big the charter boat problem was when there were only 320 vessels nationwide. He added that when it came to having recreational fishers report their catches, they would be a very good source of information.

Jim Nichol, from the Maori Council, said that when the Maori Fisheries Settlement occurred, many Maori talked about getting back 100 percent of the resource. He said that for political reasons it was ratcheted down and the shared fisheries proposals were a further “dumbing down” of Maori rights to fish or Maori entitlement.

Sonny Tau commented that there was no science to how Maori got 10 percent of New Zealand's commercial fisheries, although Te Ohu Kaimoana needed to be applauded as Maori ownership had moved from 10 percent to about 50 percent.

Paul Barnes from option4 asked the Ministry what options were available if there was no willing seller. Mark Edwards replied that if there were allocation decisions, justifications needed to be made and a way through would need to be found regardless.

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Tiakina ngā rawa hi ika, a tātou kaimoana mo ngā uri whakaheke
Protecting Māori fisheries assets for future generations