July 1st 2005 – NZ Rock Lobster Industry Council
Fishing Industry Slams Forest And Bird Tactics
The Executive Officer of the NZ Rock Lobster Industry Council, Daryl Sykes, has reacted angrily to statements made by
Dunedin Forest and Bird spokesperson, Rebecca Bird, on June 29th.
“Ms Bird’s assertion that opposition to the DOC proposal lacks any “scientific reason” is hypocrisy as an art form given
that the marine reserve proposal itself is unsupported by any credible scientific evidence in relation to existing or
potential risks or threats to the marine environment that might justify complete protection”.
Mr. Sykes was particularly critical of the Forest and Bird Society’s persistent attempts to assign fisheries management
benefits to marine reserves.
“Setting aside the fact that the Marine Reserves Act 1971 has no fisheries management objectives, there is published
scientific evidence that no-take marine reserves can confound credible fisheries management outcomes,” said Mr. Sykes.
“Ms Bird continues the tiresome Forest and Bird Society tradition of selective misrepresentation and half-truths in her
denunciation of opponents to the proposed Nuggets marine reserve”, said Mr. Sykes. “The waning enthusiasm for this
marine reserve proposal now being shown by Ministers Carter and Benson-Pope may be the catalyst for her recent outburst,
but as so often is the case with the Forest and Bird Society, Ms Bird hangs her criticism of opponents and her support
for the proposal on a mishmash of ideology, rhetoric and misinformation”.
With reference to the state of the rock lobster stocks along the Otago coastline Mr. Sykes confirmed that a recent
scientific assessment of the Otago (CRA 7) and Southland (CRA 8) rock lobster fisheries indicated a high probability of
the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) being increased by more than 20% as from April 2006.
“Ms Bird’s commentary on the status of these fisheries reveals her to be less than credible as a spokesperson for the
marine environment. Her parent organisation is further shamed as a consequence of her emotive and unprofessional
utterances.”
ENDS