Local Labour with Rachel Jones

I get seasick. Very seasick. Hence, I prefer fishing for trout over ocean fishing. But I totally understand the passion of those who do fish.

That's why I'm making the effort to get my head around a pretty complex debate when it comes to fishing in this country.

Once upon a time, Kiwis could catch all the fish they liked. But in the 1980s, a rethink in fishery management saw an individual transferable quota system came into effect – partly driven by the depletion of fishing stock.

Fishing rights were allocated to the big corporates. Smaller operators were given small quotas and were soon bought out by the big players. Local ‘lifestyle' fishermen were dismissed as part-timers.

The system has since been rejigged, most notably to ensure Maori fishing rights under the Treaty of Waitangi settlement.

Yet, despite the quota system, the sustainability of our fisheries remains under threat.

As a result, the public's right to fish is being curtailed. The big fishery operators are lobbying for the recreational catch to be part of the quota system.

They want to curb what you can take out of the sea – particularly snapper and crayfish in the Bay of Plenty region – to maintain their own catch.

Fiddling with regulations for the recreational fisher – whether through bag limits, size restrictions, or introduction of licensing – is deceptive stuff. The commercial operators who catch, kill and dump juvenile fish by using inefficient and inappropriate fishing methods are having a far greater impact on sustainability than the weekend fisher.

What's needed is government leadership that preserves our natural resources, our fishing industry, and the right of the ordinary Kiwi to fish recreationally.

Labour is committed to having recreational fishers at the decision-making table when it comes to working out the details, ensuring balance between economics and environment, corporates and communities.

The corporates have loud voices. If you care about your catch, make sure your voice is heard at the ballot box this year. Email me your thoughts at rachel.jones@labour.org.nz