Science says whitebait doing fine

I would not slash Mike O’Donnell’s tyres (Letters, Oct 22), but science can scythe his simplistic call to ban whitebaiting for two years.

I have whitebaited for 50 years, so while that may lay me open to the sanctimonious ire of Forest and Bird and all the other eco-warriors, there is more scientific evidence confirming the health of the fishery than there is against it.

A DOC-produced document in 2018 clearly states that they have no scientific proof that whitebait are threatened, declining, increasing or endangered. But more importantly, eminent scientists David Schiel and Mike Hickford have undertaken a recent in-depth study on our whitebait, and for various and interesting scientific reasons are positive that future generations will be enjoying every aspect of these fish.

Anecdotally, I believe the fishery is sustainable, and that seasons vary as they have always done, and will continue to do so.

Whitebait travel up our rivers all year round and we have one season in spring to fish for them, and while I have no objection to scientifically based, reasonable changes to the regulations, I totally object to sweeping changes made because of ideology.

Jim Simons, Waikanae Beach [abridged]

Exclusion of clarity

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