Thread: Possible changes to snapper limits for Area SNA1

Originally Posted by sneeze

Well FWIW this thread is far better than I thought it would be. Some good points all round.
Having grown up in the kenepuru Iv seen the fishing come and go. Pair trawling had the biggest effect by a long way and I think that highlighted the greed that has always existed in the fishing industry . But the damage done by some recos shouldn't be underestimated. The sounds would be full of boats over the spawning season and many would be setting nets and set lines as well as fishing all day. Some of the catches clearly showing greed and waste wasn't just the realm of the commercial.
The snapper limit here is 3 and has been for a long time, the introduction supported by most locals. The local cod fishery is good example, while there is little doubt commercial fishing contributed the demise after it became uneconomic for them to fish it was the recreational fisher preventing the fishery from healing and while I don't totaly agree with the current slot limit it is working.
On the comercial vs reco front I think its worth giving a thought to the guy whos job will go if the quota is cut just so you can take home a few more fish?
I hope all the talk about changing votes is just sabre rattling though. Deciding who calls the shots on the direction of our country,education of our children and the health care of our parents etc based on being able to take home 9 fish instead of 3 seems pretty shallow .

geez you make it sound so trivial... I guess you would have to ask what was next? Fishing for commercial purposes only? You may not think that this is not worth fighting for but I sure as hell do.To me its someone trying to take away one of the awesome things about being a New Zealander. I do agree with you that some reco fisherman are blatant rapists of our seas, A fact that makes me rant for an hour after each episode of coast watch, I cant believe that people can be so short sighted. Its time that we get serious with these assholes and ensure they get more than community service and confiscation of gear. For me it has nothing at all to do with the number of snapper, I can't remember a time I decided to keep nine. I do think that if commercial T.A.C increases and reco's drops, that sets a real dangerous precedence.
so yes, I do care about my children being able to enjoy this fishery just as much as I care about schooling and health care.