Fishing clubs back closing coast
A proposed two-year ban on fishing and seafood gathering along Taranaki’s coastline has the general support of the Taranaki fishing community.
The hapū of Taranaki iwi are seeking the legal ban from the minister of oceans and fisheries under Section 186a of the Fisheries Act.
As it stands, the proposed closure would extend two nautical miles offshore and cover 300 square metres.
It would stop people taking all shellfish, including pāua, kina and pūpū (catseye), rock lobster (crayfish), crabs, octopus, anemones and conger eel.
Ian Steele, New Plymouth Underwater And Sport Fishing Club president, said the ban had the general support of Taranaki Fishing Clubs, after talks were held with kaumātua.
Steele said there was some discussion about halving the proposed two nautical mile distance to allow some taking of crayfish in deeper water.
This would still protect the pāua beds and prevent areas north and south of the closed area being overfished.
A customary rāhui has been in place for months, following alarm among coastal hapū over summer that the region’s pāua beds and other shellfish habitats were being stripped bare by hundreds of people travelling in large groups from outside the region.
Te Kahui o Taranaki Iwi chairperson Jacqui King has said their aim was to have the closure in place before the major paūa tides preceding Christmas.
Steele said the two-year closure would enable development of an Ahu Moana approach, where mana whenua and the community work together in formal partnership.
The Section 186a closure was one of the few tools open to Taranaki iwi to force the hand of the wider community to sit up and take notice of the issues at hand, he said.
‘‘If the S186a closure is approved by the Crown, there is a time window to put a management approach like Ahu Moana in place.
‘‘We can all use the opportunity that Taranaki iwi’s application has created – an opportunity to manage for future generations.
‘‘Such an approach could be the starting point for wider management of the Taranaki coastline.’’
A similar management plan is being developed in the Coromandel by Ngati Hei that includes mana whenua, recreational fishers, divers and spear fishers and environmentalists, supported by experts.
‘‘Such an approach is only possible through all parties coming to the table, with the best interests of our environment and future generations at heart,’’ Steele said.
The Section 186a closure proposal is open for submissions until September 12.