Scallops off menu to save fishery
The hand-gathering and reseeding of Coromandel scallops — with some eventually being marketed exclusively locally — is being pitched to the Fisheries Minister, who approved a two-year closure of the fishery from Saturday.
No taking of scallops will be allowed from the east Coromandel coastline from Anarake Point to Ruahiwihiwi Point, where Mercury Bay iwi Nga¯ti Hei exercise mana moana, including Opito Bay. Other fishing in the area can continue under existing rules.
The closure follows a customary ra¯ hui placed by Nga¯ ti Hei on the Opito Bay area in December to take pressure off the declining scallop fishery.
The Coromandel Scallop Fishermen’s Association holds the quota — which is one of only two remaining commercial scallop fisheries in New Zealand.
Quota holders did not want to comment, saying they were reviewing what avenues might be open to them following the announcement.
There is no financial compensation offered, MPI confirmed.
MPI director of fisheries management Emma Taylor said Fisheries New Zealand will continue to monitor the fishery to understand the extent of recovery it needs.
Non-financial support for the local fishermen and their families was available through the Firstmate wellbeing programme, an independent charitable trust supported by Fisheries New Zealand, it was suggested.
“The Government regularly makes changes to fishery management settings to support sustainability and in response to community concerns.
“In the case of this temporary closure, the concern held by Nga¯ ti Hei aligned with information from recent scientific surveys that showed the scallop fishery needed an opportunity to recover so that it can remain viable into the future,” Taylor said.
Ngati Hei is seeking to work with organisations including Legasea on restoration of the scallop beds.
“It was truly a collaborative response to a problem that was leading to the extinction of the scallop,” said Ngati Hei kauma¯tua Joe Davis.
“I really appreciate the support of Opito Bay Ratepayers Association and following on from that, Whitianga, Tairua and Kuaotunu — all of the coastal towns that pitched in and gave us a hand and supported it.”
Davis called on the community to use the two-year timeframe to prevent a return to the status quo. “It doesn’t just stop with a ra¯hui.” Scallops were merely one species that demonstrated the need for change in fishery management, he said.
“We’re concerned about all the fish and species that are out there in our bays, we want our mokopuna to have a feed and enjoy what we do today.
“At the moment it’s only the big fishing companies that have a say and influence the Government, because they’re protecting their own interests.
“They keep taking and it’s got to stop.”
Legasea, which assisted Nga¯ti Hei in its bid to close the fishery, said communities including Great Barrier Island and Omaha north of Auckland had expressed concerns the closure would add pressure to their scallop beds.
Legasea spokesman Sam Woolford said an alternative to dredging had to be found for the Hauraki Gulf.
“We are not trying to put people out of a job. If we can find a viable alternative to growing scallops without dredging, that’s the goal. Without it, they’ll all be out of a job.”
Fisheries lobbyist and documentary film-maker Mike Bhana said he suspected further announcements might come with the Coromandel scallop fishery as a potential pilot for change to the Quota Management System.
He had pitched to Fisheries Minister David Parker a value-added locally-based fishery that allowed for scallops to be hand-gathered only and sold on the Coromandel.
“Coromandel scallops only available on the Coromandel, all handcaught by divers will ask a much higher price, there are all sorts of great value-added solutions if we change the model.”
The Whitianga Scallop Festival was an example of an event that drew millions into the local economy but had to be rebranded due to fishing impacts, he said.
The renamed Whitianga Oceans Festival has been postponed from its scheduled date of September 18. Its organising committee said this was due to uncertainty over Covid-19.
Taylor said that between April and May, more than 2000 submissions, mostly supporting a closure, were received and they mirrored recent scientific surveys highlighting declining stocks.
Commissioned by Fisheries New Zealand, the work highlighted concerns around the sustainability of scallop stocks right across the northern scallop fisheries, including the east Coromandel area.
Water quality and sedimentation from land activities were a contributor to the decline, said Taylor.
“Addressing fishing activity is part of the picture.
“We also know that scallops are affected by land-based impacts such as sedimentation, and by changes to water quality.”
Locals were called upon to continue vigilance at boat ramps to ensure the ra¯hui is adhered to.
“The closure will relieve some of the pressure while work continues by central and local government to address fishing- and non-fishingrelated impacts,” she said.
Chris Severne of Opito Ratepayers Association thanked everyone who helped them achieve the protections for scallops.
“It shows what a community can achieve to protect our marine environment to achieve a sustainable scallop fishery for future generations,” said Severne.
Ministry for Primary Industries fishery officers will patrol the coast, supporting public awareness and enforcing the rules.
Taylor said ra¯hui were important tools in protection of species.