Akitio patrols after paua plundered
Hundreds of shells from undersized pa¯ ua on the beach
Fishery officers from the Ministry of Primary Industries are increasing their presence along Akitio Beach to prevent fishers taking undersized catches. The move comes after a member of a local iwi found hundreds of shells from undersized pa¯ua on the beach over the Christmas break.
Nga¯ti Kahungunu ki Ta¯maki nuia-Rua chairman Hayden Hape said he approached MPI and they had talked out a couple of strategies involving monitoring the catches, signage and data collection.
He said they were “really engaging” with kaumatua and running through some scenarios to work out what the best strategy was short term, as “people are still doing it”.
Hape told the officer about the app he wanted to develop which would require recreational fishers to register and the officer seemed quite excited by it.
The iwi hoped to be able to have some of their kaitiaki walking alongside fishery officers, but not as law enforcers.
Hape said he wanted to take a different approach.
“Education is key. Our old people base their values around teaching.”
Patrols are being stepped up at Akitio Beach to stop recreational fishers taking undersized paua.
He said everyone played a part in contributing to protecting the environment and especially the wildlife.
It’s not about separating people. It’s not about disconnecting them from the moana. It’s actually sometimes we’ve got to allow a particular area to regenerate itself. Hayden Hape, Nga¯ti Kahungunu ki Ta¯maki nui-a-Rua chairman
Working with fishery officers meant data could also be shared.
Hape commented there was commercial fishing but that was managed. “We know how much the commercial guys are taking each year” however, recreational fishing wasn’t documented.
“That’s something we want to target — having the ability to be able to allow people themselves to contribute towards collecting data.”
Hape was keen to work with the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Horizons Regional Council, as well as the community, to build an app that required people to register.
It would not only be for recreational fishing, but for health and safety as well.
For instance, those who were going out boating had to radio in to let people know where they were going and when they expected to be back. So those going out diving could do the same.
Hape said that would give information like where they were diving,
where they came from, what they had caught and average size.
“It allows us to accumulate data.” MPI Regional Manager Fish Compliance Tyrone Robinson said fishery officers had increased their presence in the beach community, 73km southeast of Dannevirke.
He said some signs had also been replaced and they were investigating what other signage might be needed.
“MPI reminds all recreational fishers that the daily limit for pa¯ua in this area is 10 per person per day with a minimum length of 125mm.
“For crayfish, there is a daily limit of six per person.”
The minimum tail width for a male crayfish is 54mm and for females 60mm. Robinson said if people could not tell the difference, the best size to gather was 60mm.
Recreational fishers could also download the free NZ Fishing Rules app.
People are encouraged to report suspected illegal activity to MPI through the Ministry’s 0800 4 POACHER number (0800 47 62 24).
Hape felt the finding of the undersized paua was a sign for people to help.
“It’s not about separating people. It’s not about disconnecting them from the moana. It’s actually sometimes we’ve got to allow a particular area to regenerate itself.
“And sometimes when something’s taken away from you, it gives you the opportunity to sit back and reflect on your behaviour or the way you treat it, so that when it comes back you’ll be more respectful,” he said.