Of fables and fish

Insights Newsletter
18 August, 2017

When Aesop told the fable of the Four Oxen and the Lion, and uttered the famous phrase “United we stand, divided we fall,” I doubt he was thinking about the plight of recreational fishers. But, as with any good fable, this lesson nevertheless holds true.

As part of the Initiative’s research into recreational fishing, we are holding twelve public meetings across the country. We want to hear what locals in these communities think of our draft policy recommendations, and learn about their hopes, concerns and challenges going into the future.

Each of these communities have their own distinct circumstances. The first three locations we visited this week were Kaikoura, Blenheim and Nelson.

All three have local challenges and pressures placed upon their fisheries, whether it is the impact of the recent earthquake, changing tourism patterns, or run-off from forestry.

Fishing plays an important role in these communities. For some people, it is a lifestyle. For others, it is a livelihood.

Aesop’s sentiment has been echoed by fishers I have met this week.

Recreational fishers we talked to at these meetings have been frustrated. Without a unified voice, many feel that their concerns have not been heard.

None of those we have talked to could say that the recreational fishing experience had improved in their lifetimes, and there is widespread concern that unless something changes the experience will decline for their grandchildren and their grandchildren’s children.

Our proposal to establish a new representative organisation hit a nerve with the public. Especially once we explained our favoured funding mechanism.

Every time a recreational fisher fuels up their outboard motor with petrol, they are paying excise duty to fund roads.

As a hypothecated tax, the rationale for charging excise on petrol was for motorists to fund road maintenance and construction.

We estimate that recreational boaties are now funding transport infrastructure to the tune of well over $61 million every year.

Harnessing even a small portion of that tax would adequately pay for a professionally staffed organisation to represent the interests of recreational fishers at the highest level.

Ensuring that there is a strong and united voice to represent the interests of recreational fishers is just the beginning to ensure that this great Kiwi pastime remains accessible now and into the future.

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