So - 9 schnapper or 3 - heres the Governments response to questions in the House ..... Hon David Cunliffe: Does the Minister stand by his statement of 15 June 2013 that the Snapper 1 fish stock is “rebuilding well” and is “growing and in good health”; if so, why is he consulting on slashing the recreational snapper bag limit from nine fish a day to just three? Hon NATHAN GUY: As the member should know, if he read the information booklet, there are a variety of options that are being consulted on. There is no predetermination. We need to work through those results that are underpinned by science—because the Ministry for Primary Industries and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research do a lot of science—and I am looking forward to receiving those submissions and making a decision in due course. Hon David Cunliffe: In regard to those options, does the Minister stand by his statement of 15 June 2013 when he said that he would consult on “decreases to both commercial and recreational limits.”, when, in fact, all of the options that he is now consulting on require major cuts to the public take and none whatsoever to any commercial take? Hon NATHAN GUY: The member is getting ahead of himself. This is a consultation period. The member needs to encourage his constituents to put a submission in. Then, in a timely manner, there will be a decision. None of these options has been ruled in or ruled out. These options are going through a proper consultation process. Hon David Cunliffe: Was the Minister getting ahead of himself when he changed his mind, or were the 350 angry New Zealanders who packed a school hall in Thames last night, absolutely furious at the proposed cuts, and was National MP Scott Simpson getting ahead of himself when he told the meeting that he disagreed with the Minister’s proposals and that he would be lobbying him to reverse them; if so, can he confirm whether Mr Simpson has yet actually lobbied him, whether he was successful, and whether it will be enough to allow the Minister to save his job? Hon NATHAN GUY: I realise that this is an extremely important issue. I also realise that Snapper 1 is important to recreational fishers. It is important to commercial fishers, and it is also important to customary fishers and iwi. These proposals need to be worked through in a considered way. There is way too much rhetoric in this debate, and I encourage people to put a submission in by 23 August, so that all of their views can be considered.
Posted on: Sun, 11 Aug 2013 01:49:12 +0000