Fishin’ for some answers

A Temuka man says the quality of shellfish in Caroline Bay is so poor, he wouldn’t consider eating them.

Hayden Don, a self-described ‘mad-keen fisherman, said he was disgusted the quality of pipi, tuatua and mussels he had found in the bay.

‘‘The quality is just disgusting. The pipi, tuatua and mussels are yellow instead of the bright white they are supposed to be and there is no way in hell I would eat it,’’ he said.

Don said he had noticed the quality of shellfish had been poor over the past couple of months and following a fishing trip last week, he had decided to take action.

Demanding answers by way of an online petition, Don hoped water quality in Caroline Bay would be taken seriously.

‘‘I want Environment Canterbury (ECan) to find out where the pollution is coming from. I want them to look at the waste water management from the factories close by.’’

He said he wanted ECan to take action so his children and future grandchildren could eat fish from the bay.

At the time of publishing, Don had 24 people signed up to his petition.

One person agreed with Don, and said the fish and shellfish quality was disgusting and they wanted to see edible fish in the bay free of disease.

Don also planned to protest by chaining himself up in Caroline Bay on September 23.

‘‘I will be there from 6am to 6pm and people can come and offer their support.’’

In 2014, Don pleaded guilty to

Hayden Don charges of selling sports fish over a four month period, in the Timaru District Court.

The case was the first of its kind and was a breach of the Fisheries Act. He was sentenced to 100 hours’ community work.