Petition seeks restriction on commercial fishing in Tasman Bay

February 27th, 2012

West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O'Connor presented a petition to Parliament, signed by 3523 people, seeking greater rights for land-based recreational fishermen in Golden Bay and Tasman Bay.

The petition was organised and built by Gerald Hughey over the past year, sitting outside Motueka and Takaka shops. Damien O'Connor has referred it to Parliament's primary production select committee.

The petition seeks to restrict commercial fishing on the coastline and inshore areas of the Nelson region, calling for "the establishment of a foreshore and inshore fishery for amateur and recreational users at no cost to users".

It seeks the closure of both bays, from Farewell Spit to Haulashore Island off Nelson, from all commercial fin fishing, and that all things be done to guarantee amateurs a chance of "a quality fish supply" unmolested by commercial trawlers, long liners, netters and paddle crab gatherers.

The petition claims that "the abrogation of the 3-mile limit, allowing trawlers, long liners and set netters, has led to a serious deprivation and destruction of the rights" of ordinary New Zealanders "by commercial interests".

It also states that "foreshore fishermen" do not get treatment equal to those fishing in other sectors, and that "there must not be discrimination" between Maori and Pakeha.

Comment by Richard Cox:
[Posted 6 March 2012]

Placing control of the inshore fishery in the hands of a community committee deserves a thorough examination. I would like to see the relevant Community Boards host the debate.

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