Marine Recreational Fishing

UnitedFuture recognises that New Zealanders have a long tradition of making the most of our marine resources and, as such, have acquired common rights to harvest a bounty that is accessible to all. Currently, however, these common rights are being largely ignored as recreational interests are subservient to both commercial and iwi interests, in the eyes of government and the Ministry of Fisheries.

 Our overriding aim is to have the rights of recreational users and harvesters enshrined in law. For this reason we are pushing for a review of Section 21 of the Fisheries Act to guarantee that the Minister of Fisheries has to set recreational user’s share of the relevant QMS (Quota Management System) before setting the commercial sector’s quota.

 Freedom of access to these resources must be preserved – although still restricted to legally takeable marine species and quotas. Above all, UnitedFuture recognises that the sustainability of the resource is paramount in order to safeguard these rights and to preserve this uniquely New Zealand way of life.

 It is UnitedFuture policy to:

  • Review and amend the Fisheries Act to ensure that recreational fishers have a priority right over and above the commercial fishing sector to free and unrestricted access to a reasonable daily bag-limit of shellfish and finfish;
  • Work with the recreational fishing sector to establish a public consultation process regarding the future of inshore fisheries management. This will include whether a statutory management organisation 'run by fishers for fishers' should be established. Our intention is to preserve the ability for future generations of New Zealanders to have access to the recreational fishing opportunities that we and previous generations have enjoyed
  • Substantially increase the level of funding made available for robust scientific monitoring over the impact that specific catch limits and fishing methods are having on fish populations and the marine environment, in order to ensure sustainability of the resource;
  • Investigate a program to give ‘problem’ kids experience going out on a recreational fishing boat;
  • Ensure that the Government recognises that education is essential for the future survival of the oceans resources and to make the appropriate additions to the school curriculum.