Play the ball, not the man

I amacting president of the NZ Recreational Fishing Council, and in my 12th year as president of the Kaikoura Boating Club.

Geoff [Rowling] has a strong political background as the Rowling name should indicate. For as long as I have known him Geoff has been committed to getting whatever gains were possible from the political realities of the situation.

Geoff and I often have robust discussions, and have done since we first met in the early 80s, and in all that time I have understood and had the highest respect for Geoff’s commitment to the long-term interests of recreational fishers.

Anyone committed to the longterm interests of fishermen has to have the long-term interests of the fishery at heart also.

Fishing is complex in terms of geophysics, biology, culture, understandings, technologies, and political, legal and management options. [There are] many ways of doing anything, so robust discussions happen.

I met Kim [Drummond] as someone involved in fisheries about the same time I met Geoff.

Kim is also someone I respect as having the interests of both fishermen and fisheries at heart, though for most of his working life he has been subject to the policy and procedural demands bureaucratic systems impose.

Political reality was that the South Island set net ban was not something that any of us were going to stop.

So while I can understand Peter Watson’s concerns in a sense, and acknowledge that he cares about fisheries and his community; in respect of his claims about Geoff Rowling, Kim Drummond and the Recreational Fishing Council he is mistaken. I have the highest respect for the dedication and integrity of all those involved in the NZRFC and the Our Fishing Future process.

By all means – join the discussion, argue your case; and do so respectfully.