HERES HOW IT WORKS My trawler fishing mates have told me how the trawlers are directed to catch a specific size of 25cm snapper for the export market. After they have set there nets and trawled for 2-4 hours, they pull up the nets and when the weight comes on as the net is lifted a lot of the smaller captured fish are squashed to bits by the heavier larger fish. The net is dropped on the deck and they start sorting out the 25mm export market snapper. And freeze them as quick as possible. Meanwhile all the other beautiful larger 2 – 15lb snapper are dying and when broomed over the side have little or no chance of survival. This could easily total several thousand beautiful top eating fish discarded, because species or the size is wrong, this is totally wrong and a disgusting waste. As Snookes Fuller said: “the trawlers have a shocking and disgraceful history. At least with long lining the fish fetch top dollar and unwanted size fish can be released back to swim and breed later. Those kept are packed away on ice in pristine condition, a non wasteful fishing practice. Lets say a trawler has a 10 tonne quota. A correct trawling practice should be that they set there net and when it is retrieved and they have netted 10 tonnes of all sizes of snapper, then that’s there quota caught. They the get paid for all of those fish, there is minimal wastage. The Chathams Islands have an excellent management plan. There is no fishing for anyone, during October and November when the fish are spawning and especially no trawling. If the private sector has to take a cut in fish limits then so should the commercial fleet. The minimum size must be lifted to at least 30cm maybe 32cm and no higher as most of us on the Firth of Thames already use a self imposed personal limit of 30-32cm. If the Minister does proceed with this it will affect our charter operators, bait and tackle shops and cause more economic hardship. No-one is going to pay $50-$80 for a charter trip just to catch 3 -5 fish and its not worth paying the high ramp fees or putting the boat in the water with the high cost of fuel. Mark my words, the commercial fleet will try and force the Minister to screw the private sector anyway possible. Dick Featherstone
Posted on: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 09:56:21 +0000
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