SEPTEMBER 09'

Time is rolling on and it is hard to believe that we are almost at the end of another quota year.  The winter has been particularly long, with its early cold start in May.  Hope everyone has been able to keep warm out on the water.

My apologies for not updating the website earlier, with our “Merry Xmas and Happy New Year” sign continuing to roll across the home page oblivious to the time of year.  Graeme made the comment to me that if we leave it any longer we might as well leave it for next Christmas. The cheeky fisherman.  I must admit I did consider it. We could get an early start.

It has been a busy year for the Association.

We have written three submissions against the Wilson Bay Interim Aquaculture Management Area, Firth of Thames.  We are concerned that with the proposed increase of size to the AMA, which is situated in the most important snapper breeding grounds for the north east coast of the North Island; has the potential to negatively impact on the future of the snapper stocks as well as other fish stocks.  The science has not been done and MFish does not have the ability to remove or otherwise regulate these fish farms once they have given their approval for an AMA.  It is then solely up to the regional councils, in this case Environment Waikato.  We are currently awaiting MFish’s final decision. We have also sent out a letter and memorandum to any other possible interested parties.  You can view it on the website and pass it along to anyone else you think may be interested.  Copies of our submissions are available to any of our members if requested.

At the end of April we had several delegates attend the NZ FCF conference in Dunedin.  It was great that the Minister of Fisheries, Phil Heatley attended and engaged with fishermen.  The general atmosphere was much more positive.  We also had a few delegates at the Seafic conference in Wellington a week later.  Again the general atmosphere was more positive than in previous years with the Prime Minister John Key giving a keynote speech.  At least MFish appears to be willing to engage with industry.  It is encouraging, but it is early days as yet.

Our AGM was held 5th June.  The executive committee remains much the same.  Nick Torkington did not stand again.  We thank Nick for his contribution over the last few years.  We welcome Gavin Perry back on to the committee.

Access to fuel is becoming a major problem at many wharfs.  Sandspit, Houhora, Totara North, Whangaroa have had the fuel companies pull out already.  Caltex is pulling out of Leigh.  This is a nation wide problem.  Ron Perry is investigating a few companies to supply fuel to Leigh, which is in a unique position, as the Association has been gifted the tank and possibly the pump.  Please let your executive committee know what is happening in your area.

The NZFCF has mailed or emailed membership invoices to all of our members individually.  If you are still landing your fish to Leigh Fisheries then disregard the invoices as the Association and Leigh Fisheries will continue to pay your membership fees. 

Don’t forget that Mark Aitken has paint and sundries available to our members at a discounted rate.

We still have one ILM scholarship available for this year through Mahurangi Technical Institute.  The next course begins 02 November 09 in Warkworth.  Remember that an application needs to be filled out giving the executive committee enough time to approve the application at an executive meeting prior to a course commencing. Otherwise SITO may also be able to help financially but are only able to help with accommodation and travel expenses and a discount on the first aid.  Again they need time to organise the funding.

Dave McIntosh has included some information on the website regarding Safe Ship Management Companies and MFish boarding procedures. 

Some of you will now be receiving your ACC self assessment booklet that is required to be completed and submitted every three years in order to receive your ACC discount.  If you are having problems with filling this out then contact a FishSafe Mentor.  Dave McIntosh is a mentor or check out the FishSafe website www.fishsafe.org.nz.

The Minister of Fisheries, Phil Heatley made an election promise to create “Recreational Only Fishing Areas”.  He has asked the industry to suggest inshore areas that we may be willing to offer as Recreational Only areas. If we fail to offer any areas then MFish will make the decision on their own.  The Minister agreed that there were probably already enough areas in the Hauraki Gulf and further north that the commercial sector was already excluded from.  The Association has in the past taken a stand that we are against any area closures until there is an overall plan for closures, including reserves, mataitais, marine protected areas, aquaculture management areas, cable lines etc.  At this stage we are going to present to the Minister, all the areas that are already closed to commercial fishing in the north of the North Island including seasonal closures, reserves, cable lines etc. We are asking that MFish present us with an overall plan for any closures for any reason.  Then we will consult with our fishermen.  MFish will probably not be able to give us an answer as they probably don’t have an overall plan.  The danger is that any area will affect some fishermen and without an overall plan we could give up an area only to find that we are shut out of many other areas as well.  We will have to be very careful here.

I am away for six weeks from 16th August until 29th September.  Our next meeting is not until 02 October 2009.  We will be back to usual in November, having our meeting the last Friday of the month, which is 27th November.

May the seas be calm and the fish plentiful. Keep Safe!

Cindy

FOR OCTOBER 08' NEWS CLICK HERE

FOR DECEMBER 08' NEWS CLICK HERE