Recreational fishing lobbyists LegaSea are making a last ditch effort to stop the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill. Here are ten reasons why Scott Simpson and other MP’s should support the bill as it stands:
- Broad Public Support for Protection: There is overwhelming public support for marine protection. The bill will increase protection from 0.3% to 6%. 77% of the public want much more (30%) of the Gulf protected.
- eNGO Support for Increased Protection: Environmental groups have consistently asked for more protection than the bill currently provides, indicating that the bill is already a compromise aimed at balancing diverse interests.
- Protection to Address Depletion and Habitat Damage: The bill addresses overfishing, habitat destruction, and declines in marine biodiversity in small areas. Lage scale bottom-impact fishing is being delt with through a different process.
- Scientific Evidence Supports High Protection Areas (HPAs): While recreational fishers claim there is no evidence to support HPAs, scientific studies worldwide demonstrate that protected areas are fantastic for restoring fish populations and biodiversity.
- Minimal Economic Impact on Recreational Fishing: Recreational fishers will still have access to 87.4% of the Gulf for fishing. The HPAs cover a small portion, reducing the impact on fishing activities while promoting long-term marine ecosystem health.
- Displacement Concerns Are Overstated: The limited fishing restrictions introduced by the bill are offset by gains in fish abundance in nearby areas, as larger, reproductively mature fish spill over into fished zones, ultimately benefiting fish stocks outside HPAs.
- Limited and Controlled Commercial Fishing: The bill may include ring-net fishing in two HPAs compromising their objectives. However, 10 high protection areas and the two marine reserve extensions will be unaffected by the amendment.
- Ecosystem Benefits for Seabirds and Marine Species: High Protection Areas will help protect seabird foraging grounds and marine ecosystems, which directly impacts terrestrial food webs and biodiversity on islands in the Gulf.
- Strong Legislative Foundations: The bill aligns with New Zealand’s marine protection obligations under international agreements, reflecting a responsible approach to safeguarding marine biodiversity while considering local cultural and socio-economic factors.
- A Balanced Approach to Sustainable Use: This bill offers a compromise between no-fishing reserves and managed-use areas, establishing a multi-use marine park with regions for both recreational fishing and high protection. This approach meets both conservation and fishing community interests without entirely prohibiting either.