Paua Otago Southland – New Zealand Sport Fishing Council

Minister's decision 2013

Nathan Guy has agreed to retain the closures excluding commercial paua harvesting from important areas of the Otago and Southland coastline. These areas sustain paua for the people of Otago and Southland, and thus enable people to provide for their social and cultural wellbeing while protecting the resource for future generations. Nice one Nathan!

Read the Minister's Paua decision media release here…….

Management

Around 165 kilometres of the Otago and Southland coastline is closed to the commercial harvest of paua.

In March 2013 the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) released an industry proposal to change the regulations to enable commercial access to some of this closed area. The Ministry support the proposal.

Submission deadline is 19 April 2013.

Hundreds of local recreational fishers have expressed their opposition to the proposal. A website www.pauatothepeople.org.nz and Facebook page have been established to enable the public to express their views and make a submission.

The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council (NZSFC) objects to any regulatory change, and is concerned that this proposal is a calculated step to gaining more quota in the future, while depleting existing non-commercial only areas.

The NZSFC advocates that the productivity of the Paua 5D fishery ought to be maintained for environmental and public interests first. Export sale for private profit comes after these local needs have been met.

Let's get real. Paua 5D is not a sport fishery. The paua cannot run nor can they hide. People gather them for food, to enhance theirs and other's wellbeing.

Paua is a traditional harvest that honours both the people who are fortunate to be served the food and those that are giving it. Whilst these benefits may be difficult to quantify, they are genuine and ongoing, and need to be maintained for our future generations.

Click on the right hand image to download the document. Most recent activity is at the top of the list.

Ministry's OIA release letter. 23 October 2014.

In September 2014 the NZSFC requested copies of selected submissions made in response to the Ministry for Primary Industries' 2013 proposals for Paua 5D. There were 2,740 submissions made in response to the proposals. Under the Official Information Act, copies of submissions by commercial interests and recreational fishing groups were delivered on 23 October 2014. This is the Ministry's letter that accompanied the copies of submissions.

Industry accept Minister's Paua 5D decision. December 2013

Commercial paua harvesters have accepted the Minister's recent Paua 5D decision, to continue to exclude commercial fishing from currently closed areas of the Otago and Southland coastline.

The industry reports that local harvesters intended to spread their catch throughout the Otago-Southland area –

"The local industry made it clear that it had no intention of taking a single extra paua out of the whole management area, if the beds were opened. But local recreational paua divers were not persuaded and neither was the Minister.

"The industry would obviously have preferred a shared access and was prepared to make concessions over conditions and areas. The end result would have been more paua for everyone along the length of the coast as stock increases accelerated.

"It is to be hoped that all sectors with an interest in paua in the region, commercial, recreational and customary, will be able to put the conflict into the past and work together to preserve the growth in the local resource that has occurred in recent years."

Decision. Minister retains closures around Otago and Southland. 19 December 2013

Media release – Paua battle almost over. 29 November 2013

Local lobby group Paua to the People (PTTP) are pleased the battle of the south is almost over. The last of three meetings convened by the Ministry was held on 27 November. Paua to the People are confident Minister Guy will draw the obvious conclusion that the presently closed areas ought to remain closed to commercial fishing. The PTTP campaign will continue until the status quo is confirmed.

Media release – Paua to the People are outraged. 14 June 2013

Local lobby group Paua to the People are outraged the Minister has deferred making a decision regarding commercial access to the paua in southern waters. Former All Black and group spokesperson says, "Over 99% of submitters have voiced these areas should remain closed to commercial paua fishing. We are outraged that a decision still hasn't been made to protect these".

Media release – Industry keen to talk about access in Paua 5D. 14 June 2013.

Storm Stanley, Chairman of Pauamac5, is confident that agreement can be reached around how the existing closed areas can be opened, used and managed. "We look forward to talking with the present users of these areas, to see what their concerns are and work out a way, regulatory or otherwise, to share the fishery and assist in its management".

Minister's decision letter. 14 June 2013.

Nathan Guy, the Minister for Primary Industries, has, to the outrage of many Otago and Southland locals, decided that all interested parties should be given the opportunity to reach an agreement on any changes to the existing access restrictions applying to commercial fishers. The Ministry will be working with locals to try and reach agreement. MPI will then make recommendations to the Minister on how he ought to proceed. Check out page 3 of the attached for further details….

Minister Guy's decision for Paua and other regulations. 14 June 2013

The Minister, Nathan Guy's, media release noting there will be an extension to the consultation period regarding the regulations limiting commercial harvest of Paua in Otago and Southland.

Mr Guy got the message loud and clear from locals that they value very highly their access to existing paua stocks around the southern coastline.

Tautuku Fishing Club newsletter – Paua issue

This Club newsletter gives you are broad view of how people from Otago, Southland and further afield, feel about the Ministry and industry proposal to open some areas of the coastline to commercial paua harvest. These views are as strong as the recent southerly winds. Click on the logo to read more….

NZSFC Update #23 – Paua campaigners pride of the south

So the rumours are true! All the talk about how steadfast southern folk can be was borne out during the recent paua consultation process. When Ministry and industry suggested the public take a back seat to commercial interests in PAU 5D the crowd literally went wild.

Media release – Paua to the People. 10 May 2013

Over 2700 submitters have objected to the proposed changes to enable commercial fishermen to access prohibited areas to harvest paua. Southern Mayors, recreational fishers and customary interests have all done their best to unite the community and defend their access to paua. Read this media release from Paua to the People!

MPI update – Large number of submissions received. 9 May 2013.

An update on the Ministry for Primary Industries' website advising they received 2740 submissions in response to their proposals for Paua 5D. 2718 submissions, including ours, supported the status quo. 22 supported easier commercial access to paua. MPI will make their recommendations to the Minister this month.

Labour fisheries spokesperson not keen on Paua proposals. 24 April 2013

David Cunliffe, the Labour party's fisheries spokesperson, is reported in the Southland Times as not being keen on the proposals to extend commercial paua harvesting into non-commercial only areas. Cunliffe has visited Invercargill and Bluff and received the clear message that the majority of locals are opposed to any changes. And that paua must be available for the people of the south first and foremost.

Ngai Tahu Seafood submission – Review of Paua 5D. 23 April 2013

Ngai Tahu Seafood did not make a written submission in response to the Ministry's proposals. It did comment on the proposed changes in this document. Ngai Tahu Seafood generally supports the intentions of the Ministry's option 2 – to amend the regulations to enable commercial paua harvest in some currently closed areas. Where there is evidence of traditional food gathering NTS supports continued closure. Where there is no evidence of traditional food gathering NTS supports opening those areas, to spread commercial effort. NTS encourage a multi-stakeholder forum to discuss issues.

Opinion piece – Paua to the people. Sam Judd in the NZ Herald. 22 April 2013.

Sam Judd used to be a commercial kina diver. Now he is commenting on the proposal to open up closed areas of the southern coastline to commercial fishing. And he doesn't mince words.

Passion is to the fore in this opinion piece. Read it. It's worth it.

NZSFC submission – Review of commercial access restrictions in the Paua 5D fishery. 19 April 2013.

The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council submits the status quo ought to be retained – no change to the regulations banning commercial paua harvest in four areas of the Otago and Southland coastline. The paua in these areas need to be sustained for environmental and public interests first. Export sale for private profit comes after these local needs have been met.

Submission – Mayor of Dunedin submits on behalf of the community. 19 April 2013

David Cull, Mayor of Dunedin, submits the wider Dunedin community regards the paua stocks around the Otago coastline as a community and cultural taonga [treasure]. The paua resource should stay with the Dunedin community and not be handed out free and destroyed for the short-term financial benefit of a few.

Ngai Tahu Maori Law Centre submission – Review of Paua 5D. 19 April 2013

The Ngai Tahu Maori Law Centre submit in support of the Ministry's option 1 – to retain existing commercial harvest closure areas. They submit it is not sustainable to open the proposed areas and enable commercial harvest of between 10 and 30 tonnes. They acknowledge community concerns that the benefits gained from commercial harvesting is not shared by the region, whereas recreational harvest is enjoyed by the community. The southern Maori community strongly favours protecting locally accessible paua for future generations.

NZ Rock Lobster Industry Council submission – Review of Paua 5D. 19 April 2013

The NZ Rock Lobster Industry Council is an umbrella organisation for 9 regional, commercial crayfish organisations. The NZ RLIC supports the Ministry's option 2 – to amend the regulations to enable commercial paua harvest in some currently closed areas.

Seafood New Zealand submission – Review of Paua 5D. 19 April 2013

Seafood New Zealand serves industry needs, including the aquaculture, deepwater, inshore finfish, paua and crayfish sectors. SNZ submits the closure regulations should be removed and all the closed areas should be opened to commercial fishing.

Southern Clams submission – Review of Paua 5D. 19 April 2013

Southern Clams Ltd supports the review of closed areas. They submit that MPI should recognise the need for, and value of, retaining marine habitats, including paua fishing areas, where commercial harvest is excluded. They also support the establishment of some fishing exclusion areas or marine reserves, as they would be in the interests of all.

PauaCo Ltd submission – Review of Paua 5D. 19 April 2013

PauaCo is a domestic supplier and exporter of live and processed paua, and owner of quota in Paua 5D. PauaCo submit in support of the Ministry's option 2 – amend the existing commercial shellfish harvest prohibitions to allow the commercial harvest of paua in all, or some, of the Otago and Southland coast. PauaCo submits the closures are an undue barrier to commercial utilisation.

South Coast Underwater Club submission – Review of Paua 5D. April 2013

The South Coast Underwater Club is based in Gore and snorkel for paua in the Otago and Southland areas. They believe the closed areas ought to remain recreational-only to ensure a catch will always be available for recreational paua gatherers. The Club submits in support of option 1 – to retain existing commercial harvest closure areas.

Pauamac5 submission – Review of Paua 5D. April 2013

PauaMac5 represents commercial interests in paua around Southland, Stewart Island, Otago and Fiordland. PauaMac5 supports the Ministry's option 2 – to amend the regulations to enable commercial harvest in currently closed areas. They also encourage a more cooperative management approach in future.

Paua Industry Council submission – Review of Paua 5D. April 2013

The Paua Industry Council submits on behalf of commercial interests, quota owners, ACE holders and processors. The Council endorses and supports the submission made by PauaMac5 and supports the Ministry's proposed option 2, to amend the regulations to enable commercial paua harvest in the nominated areas around the Otago and Southland coastline.

NZRFC submission – Review of Paua 5D and other regulations. 19 April 2013.

The NZ Recreational Fishing Council submits that MPI have no idea of the importance of PAU 5D to recreational fishers, no idea of the level of recretional harvest or what the effects are going to be if this fishery is opened to commercial harvest. The NZRFC suggests the Minister acts with extreme care and maintains the status quo.

Eastern Boating and Fishing Club submission – Review of Paua 5D. 19 April 2013

The Eastern Boating and Fishing Club has members from Otago, Canterbury and Southland. The Club submits in support of option 1 – to retain the status quo, that is to retain existing commercial harvest closure areas. The Club notes that ownership of the paua stocks should be preserved in the public domain. They also question the legality of privatising paua, giving quota to individuals via the quota management system. The Club is concerned that overfishing of the area suggests the quota system is not working.

Otago Students' Spearfishing and Hunting Club submission – Review of Paua 5D. 17 April 2013

The Otago Students' Spearfishing and Hunting Club submit in support of option 1 – to retain existing commercial harvest closure areas. Club members collecting paua is a privilege. The effects of any opening of areas to commercial harvest will have a strong effect on club members, most of whom are on very low incomes.

Green Island Fishing Club submission – Review of Paua 5D and other regulations. 9 April 2013

The Green Island Fishing Club strongly prefers option 1, the status quo – to retain existing commercial harvest prohibitions. Members do not believe there is sufficient evidence to show that the option of opening the recreational areas to commercial paua gathering would be sustainable. They question, if commercial harvesting is sustainable, then why is access to recreational areas required given that commercial fishers have access to over 500km of coastline in the Paua 5D management area.

Opinion piece – Pauamac5 Chairman defends commercial fishing interests in Paua 5D. 9 April 2013.

Storm Stanley, Chairman of Pauamac5, addresses some inaccurate statements made during the regulatory change consultation process and public meeting in Bluff. Industry's intention in requesting a regulation change is to spread the existing catch over a wider area, to benefit the whole Paua 5D Otago-Southland fishery.

Dive South submission – Review of Paua 5D and other regulations. 30 March 2013.

Dive South Diving and Fishing Club represents a diverse group of divers and fishers from around Southland. Dive South strongly opposes the proposed regulation changes on the grounds that the area is one of the few places recreational fishers have easy access. The Club is concerned about the impacts of increased commercial effort and depletion of popular areas.

MPI proposals – Review of commercial access regulations in PAU 5D. 11 March 2013.

The Ministry for Primary Industries' initial views on a request from the paua industry to amend the regulations banning commercial harvest in specific areas of the Otago and Southland coastlines. The Ministry support this proposal.

MPI letter – Advising of the Paua 5D proposals and other matters. 11 March 2013.

A letter from the Ministry for Primary Industries advising they are consulting on a variety of issues, including Paua 5D. Submission deadline is 19 April 2013. Any changes will apply from 1 October 2013.

Plenary report Paua 5D. May 2012

Facts and figures about the Paua 5D fishery. When and how Paua 5 was split into three different areas – PAU 5A, 5B and 5D. Catch limits and background information. Good information if you want to know more!

Plenary report – Introduction to the Paua fisheries. May 2012

An overview of the 10 paua fish stocks, including PAU 5D. This document discusses recreational, customary and commercial catch. It even has estimates of annual recreational harvest dating back to 1991!

Paua and PAU 5D – Debate history

There is more information about Paua 5D and related management on the option4 site. Feel free to browse and download whatever you require regarding the 2002 Paua 5D proposals or the 2010 to 2011 Paua management review.