Whitebaiter: speak up
Graeme Marshall is urging people to make submissions on proposed changes to whitebait regulations before it’s too late.
The Pleasant Point man, who has been whitebaiting for decades, said much misinformation on those possible changes, bordering on hysteria, has spread, with some people contending that whitebaiting is going to be banned.
‘‘Events have subsequently proved this assertion wrong but there are still major changes in the pipeline,’’ Marshall said.
The discussion document, put together by the Department of Conservation (DOC), proposes a suite of changes to the management of the whitebait fishery. Submissions on the proposals have a deadline of March 2.
‘‘South Canterbury whitebaiters should take the time to read this document because the future of whitebait management in our region is at stake,’’ Marshall said.
So far, there have been more than 2000 submissions on the proposals, DOC said.
Marshall said he would like to see changes to the length of the whitebait season.
‘‘I would strongly urge that we adopt the West Coast September 1 to November 14 season, which gives plenty of opportunities for whitebait to spawn outside the season,’’ Marshall said.
‘‘The other alternatives, especially DOC’s preferred option would mean that the season is effectively finished before the best runs take place.’’
The proposed changes also include some regulations already in existence in the West Coast.
Marshall said it was imperative people spoke up on the proposed changes.
‘‘If you care about the fishery read the document and make a submission. Time is running out. If you simply shrug your shoulders and assume that ‘she’ll be right’ don’t grizzle further down the track when some unpalatable changes come into law.’’
However, Te Ru¯ nanga o Arowhenua chairman John Henry said he was bitterly disappointed with DOC’s consultation on the proposals. ‘‘There hasn’t been the consultation on the marae, DOC hasn’t established a dialogue,’’ Henry said.’’
He said the whitebait habitat, in South Canterbury in particular, had been declining for years, with wetlands disappearing.
‘‘The Government have got to take a stance on flora and fauna, instead of these kneejerk reactions,’’ Henry said.
‘‘The state of our waterways is a crime.’’
In response to Henry’s claims,
DOC Freshwater manager Elizabeth Heeg said the organisation ‘‘engages with iwi and with Ma¯ ori more broadly on the work to improve whitebait management, and has done so since the engagement process began in 2017, well before the discussion document was released’’.
Meanwhile, Forest and Bird has sent an email to its members urging them to submit on the proposed changes.
It asks for members to promote a licence, catch limit, and data collection as the management actions needed to achieve whitebait protection.
So far, Forest and Bird’s petition calling for stronger rules around whitebait fishing has received almost 5000 signatures.