The Future Catch was launched with a panel discussion in Wellington on 4 December.

Randall Bess (report author), Stuart Nash (Minister of Fisheries), Sir Mark Solomon (Deputy Chair, Te Ohu Kaimoana) and Bob Gutsell (Vice President, New Zealand Sport Fishing Council) discussed the issues facing the recreational fishing sector.

Panel members also fielded questions from a crowd of more than 100 people. Although audience members from different fishing sectors had different views about fisheries management, everyone shared our concerns about the declining fish stock and protecting our fisheries for the next generation.

Many New Zealanders are concerned that declining fish stocks are threatening the future of recreational fishing, a hallmark of Kiwi life.

The New Zealand Initiative shares this concern and has conducted research both in New Zealand and overseas to find better ways of managing the fish stocks important to recreational fishers.

This research included studying best practice fisheries management in Western Australia. It also included a series of meetings up and down New Zealand to publicly debate draft policy recommendations. 

Join the New Zealand Initiative for the launch of “The Future Catch: Preserving Recreational Fisheries for the next Generation”. This report proposes recommendations that would ensure fish stocks recover to sustainable levels and that recreational fishers would have a real voice in decision making.
 
Our panellists: Dr Randall Bess (Research Fellow, The New Zealand Initiative and report author), Bob Gutsell (Vice President, New Zealand Sport Fishing Council), Hon Stuart Nash (Minister of Fisheries), and Sir Mark Solomon (Deputy Chair of Te Ohu Kaimoana).

Monday, 4 December 2017
5.30 pm - 6.00 pm   Arrival
6.00 pm - 7.00 pm   Presentations and Q & A
7.00 pm - 8.00 pm   Drinks and nibbles

Location: Mac's Function Centre (Cable room), 4 Taranaki Street, Wellington