Beach seiners seek advice

Press, 30 January 1984, Page 2

Beach seiners seek advice

PA Blenheim Havelock Beach seiners are seeking legal advice on claiming compensation from the Ministry of Fisheries as a result of the closing of the beach seining fishery in the Marlborough Sounds. A seiners’ spokesman, Mr Douglas Stonehouse, said licensed beach seiners believed the Ministry acted illegally when it closed the fishery in November, only two weeks after issuing licences. This had left nine boats tied up for about two months, he said. Mr Stonehouse said the closing came at the height of the season when a good week could produce $2OOO. Because it was their living, the fishermen were as concerned as anyone about conservation of snapper stocks, he said. The Regional Fisheries Inspector, Mr Neville Buckley, said the season had been closed after consultation with the beach seiners who had agreed to a twomonth moratorium. He said that last year 120 tonnes of snapper were taken from the Sounds, the biggest percentage, about 80 tonnes, being taken by beach seiners. Mr Buckley said the Ministry was trying to bring in a management scheme that would allow beach seiners and others access to the fishery. “We are consulting them. A discussion group has been set up, six of them were present at the management committee meeting a fortnight ago,” said Mr Buckley.