Concern octopus fishing is damaging island
DURING the course of one or more of my daily perambulations around Andersons Bay Inlet I have noticed what appears to be deliberate damage to the embankment immediately adjacent to the ‘‘Bird Roost’’ island.
Octopus gatherers have often used this facility, built as a refuge for birdlife, as a thoroughfare enabling deeper penetration across the lagoon itself. This is most likely to take place in the evening or when there are fewer people to take notice. Hoodies and dark glasses are used to make identification difficult, and these people definitely do not like being watched. I doubt if this most recent damage has been done by those who go down just occasionally and take an octopus to prepare for eating. They do quite a good job, removing the carcases before they begin to decay and set up a highly objectionable smell; but after observing these activities for several years and considering some of the gear involved, I think it strains credulity to think that there is no commercial imperative to it, making the practice illegal as I understand it, under the fishing regulations.
I have seen regular daily takes of half a dozen octopi or more, and I doubt that the average home freezer could cope with more than one day's harvest, so the surplus is going somewhere.
Further proof, were it needed, has been the placement of nearby rocks as ‘‘paving stones’’, insurance against sinking kneedeep or further into claggy black mud. Some Dunedin people, plus others from a diverse array of overseas countries whom I know, have been here up to three times to photograph our wildlife, such is the value visitors to our country place upon it. A pity then, that some of those living locally value it so little that they are prepared to undo the good work of others who have invested heavily in the facility in terms of planning, effort and finance. Especially so, when they will happily do deliberate damage in the process.
My suggestion, if it is able to be implemented, would be to immediately trespass from the island anyone without the authority to be there, and in the expectation of non compliance, which will be a near certainty, hefty fines until their attitudes align with those of everyone else. Maybe then, the birds, which now exist there in only depleted numbers, might feel more confident about returning Ian Smith
Dunedin
Cyclists
THE comments made by M. Thompson
(ODT 14.1.22) are typical of the ignorance shown by many motorists. Roads are not designed for the exclusive use of motor vehicles, as Mr Thompson claims. Furthermore, there is no obligation for a cyclist to use any shared cycle path. He only needs to look at the Road Code to confirm this.
I and many of my friends are no doubt the cyclists who annoy Mr Thompson but I think he needs to understand that sometimes we use the shared cycle path (which is offroad) and sometimes we use the cycle lane (which is onroad). I feel much safer cycling on the road and if I am travelling at 35kmh to 40kmh as it would be dangerous for me to use the shared cycle path and unfair to pedestrians and dog walkers who also use the path. I use the shared cycle path when I travel at a more leisurely pace and I then slow down for pedestrians so that we can all use the path safely.
Mr Thompson also needs to realise that every cyclist I know is also a motorist. This is why, when cycling in a group, we call out to one another when a car is behind and is wanting to pass. It is wrong to call us arrogant. There may be some exceptions, but cyclists (and certainly the cyclists that I ride with) are courteous to other road users.
As for the suggestion that any cycle training should be done in a velodrome, does he also think that all competitive runners and joggers should run on running tracks and not on public roads or pavements?
Mr Thompson should sign up for a defensive driving course. He might then get a better understanding of the road code and he might also learn to treat other road users with a bit more respect.
M. Riley
St Kilda
BIBLE READING: Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. — John 6:47