Snapper wastage
30 October 2014
In response to media discussion of wastage associated with snapper
fishing the following points can help to underpin any further discussions.
Details
•
Snapper 1 extends from North Cape to Cape Runaway on
the East Cape.
•
About 60% of the snapper taken commercially in Snapper 1
is caught using nets on trawl or Danish seine boats.
•
Trawling and Danish seining are banned from the inner
Hauraki Gulf and Firth of Thames.
•
The mortality rate of undersized snapper caught and
discarded by trawlers is over 90%. This could equate to as
much as 20% of the snapper catch by weight.
•
Prior to the 2013 management changes, mortality of
snapper associated with recreational fishing was
estimated to be between 3.6 and 7.5%, by weight.
http://www.legasea.co.nz/faqs-management.php#kill
•
LegaSea promotes a ban of trawling inside the 100m depth contour, to protect
sensitive and nursery areas and to prevent small fish being killed and discarded.
http://www.legasea.co.nz/5principles.php
Views
•
Commercial interests identify their main issue - they want accurate recreational
snapper catch data.
•
LegaSea knows this data already exists. It was collected in 2011-12, collated then used
in the science process prior to the 2013 Snapper 1 management review. Results
published last year estimate the recreational snapper catch as 3754 tonnes (CV 6%).
•
LegaSea has tried and failed using OIAs to get access to government research data
that shows the true extent of juvenile mortality caused by trawling. This information
is reflected in the Trawl Mortality Report that the Ministry and industry have refused
to release since 1994.
The situation
•
Our precious fisheries resources are being wasted every day. Millions of small fish,
mostly immature, are killed and discarded every year.
•
We cannot rebuild the fishery and manage for abundance while this level of juvenile
mortality exists.
•
One common cause of this unnecessary waste is the use of unselective and
indiscriminate fishing methods such as trawling.
•
Trawling is a hangover from past centuries. Many studies have confirmed the high
level of juvenile and other unwanted catch in trawling.
Snapper wastage. LegaSea. 30 October 2014.
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•
Bulk harvesting methods such as trawling and Danish seining need to be banned from
our near shore waters.
•
In the early 1990s the Ministry commissioned research to find out how many fish
were being killed by trawlers. Despite multiple Official Information Act requests we
have repeatedly been declined access to this report. This denial is fuelling suspicion
that the results are bad.
•
As identified in the TV3 3rd Degree clip, it is common knowledge that huge numbers of
juvenile fish are being killed and legally discarded by trawlers every year.
http://www.3news.co.nz/tvshows/3rd-degree/snapper-fisheries-crack-down-onwasteful-practices-2014102920
•
The commercial industry has acknowledged there is a problem. Industry and
taxpayers have invested resources into developing new technology aimed at reducing
this unproductive waste. So far we have not been given access to any results or even
benchmarks for success.
•
Given our collective investment of $26 Million of taxpayer funds in the Precision
Seafood Harvesting project we expect progress reports and results to be made
available to the public. It would be good to get proof that juvenile fish mortality is
being reduced.
•
Recreational fishers who release fish must ensure their gear and handling practices
offer the best chance of survival, otherwise they are contributing to unnecessary
fishing mortality.
•
Fish that are lip hooked and caught in depths less than 25 metres have a better
chance of survival, with a few conditions.
•
Most fishers releasing live fish from the hook expect they are conserving fish for the
future.
Why we care
•
Significantly reducing the amount of waste will enable our snapper stocks to rapidly
rebuild to international best practice levels.
•
More abundant fisheries will most likely reduce conflicts between sectors.
•
We will all benefit from having access to abundant and sustainable fish stocks, and
future generations can enjoy world-class fisheries.
LegaSea’s solution
•
Ban old world style trawling from within the 100m depth contour, until better
selectivity and reduced waste can be demonstrated.
•
To better understand wastage we need Nathan Guy, the Minister for Primary
Industries, to direct his Ministry to release the 1994 Trawl Mortality Report. Hiding this
information only leads to distrust and doubt over counter-claims that waste is not
such a big problem.
•
Identify areas that need protection from fishing. There are historic and known
nursery and prime habitat areas that need protection so juvenile fish can grow to
adult size.
•
People have lots of good ideas to share on how to conserve fish. LegaSea calls for
investment into resourcing a meaningful process whereby the public can research
and consult, and come up with ways to conserve fish to accelerate the rebuild of the
fishery.
Snapper wastage. LegaSea. 30 October 2014.
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What can recreational fishers do to help with the rebuild?
If fishing for snapper recreational fishers can employ best practice techniques, including:
•
Using soft baits or jigs that lip hook fish.
•
When bait fishing, using large baits on large hooks, 7/0 or 8/0s.
•
Using appendage hooks that reduce the capture and gut hooking of small fish.
•
Using circle hooks.
•
Fishing actively, by keeping in touch with your bait or jig to avoid gut hooking.
•
Moving away from areas holding large numbers of small fish.
•
Using wet, cool surfaces when handling fish for release.
•
Quickly killing and chilling in ice or slurry any fish being kept for eating.
•
Using the ‘Free Fish Heads’ service to share unwanted heads and frames
http://www.legasea.co.nz/vid-Free-Fish-Heads.php.
Background information
Who is LegaSea?
LegaSea is the public face of the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council. The
Council has an experienced fisheries management, science, policy and legal
team. On behalf of the Council LegaSea provides public-friendly information
about a variety of processes that are important to the sustainable management
of fisheries for future generations.
What does LegaSea stand for?
LegaSea has developed 5 Principles to describe what we stand for. These explain how we can
achieve productive, abundant and diverse fisheries so future generations can enjoy a
meaningful fishing experience. http://www.legasea.co.nz/5principles.php
Those principles are:
1.
Let’s rebuild the fishery
2. Stop senseless waste
3. The public own the fishery
4. Equal size limits for all
5. Value recreational fishing
Contacts
Richard Baker
LegaSea spokesperson
021 869 889
P: 0800 LEGASEA (534 273)
E: [email protected]
W: www.legasea.co.nz
FB: www.facebook.com/legasea
Snapper wastage. LegaSea. 30 October 2014.
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