Angry anglers inundate ministry

‘There is no predetermined outcome.’

PRIME Minister John Key was right. New Zealanders really do like to go fishing. By late yesterday there had been 45,000 submissions on the Ministry for Primary Industries’ management plan for the North Island’s snapper fishery. Submissions close today.

Recreational fishermen have been infuriated by proposals to cut their catch limit from nine to three in plans to save the snapper fishery, while commercial fishing quotas remain untouched.

The SNA1 fishery runs from Northland to Bay of Plenty and the ministry is preparing a plan to ensure the long-term sustainability of the fishery after unregulated fishing nearly destroyed it.

At times last week, public submissions were coming in at about 200 an hour, a level of public engagement that seems unprecedented.

New Zealanders were interested in the definition of marriage, making 21,533 submissions on the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill, to legalise same-sex marriage. Auck-

Nathan Guy land’s Unitary Plan also captured the imagination of locals, who submitted 22,700 times on plans for the city’s future. The controversial 2003 Foreshore and Seabed Bill received 3946 submissions. Only 123 submissions were received on the GCSB bill.

The public engagement on the issue has not surprised the primary industries minister. ‘‘Recreational fishing is part of the Kiwi way of life,’’ Nathan Guy said. ‘‘This is a shared fishery so it is really important to recreational fishers, commercial and customary as well.’’

But recreational fishermen have criticised the submission process as meaningless, believing the ministry plan a foregone conclusion.

‘‘There is no predetermined outcome and we want to hear the views of the public before making any decision,’’ Mr Guy said.

The final decision on the management plan for the snapper fishery will be made on October 1.